What is Diabetes?

 Diabetes mellitus (DM), is a group of metabolic diseases in which
 a person has elevated blood sugar levels, either because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced.

Symptoms:

 Polyuria (frequent urination),     
 Polydipsia (increased thirst) and
 Polyphagia (increased hunger).

                                                                            Universal Diabetes Symbol

     

Types of Diabetes:

• Type 1 DM in which the body fails to produce insulin, and requires the person to inject insulin.This form is called as "insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus" (IDDM) or "juvenile diabetes".
• Type 2 DM results from insulin resistance, a condition in which the cells fail to respond to insulin properly, or an absolute insulin deficiency. This form is known as non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or "adult-onset diabetes".
• The third form is gestational diabetes which occurs when pregnant women without a previous diagnosis of diabetes develop a high blood glucose level. It may precede development of type 2 DM.