Diabetes Mellitus is a condition wherein the pancreas is no longer able to produce insulin or the cells are unable to respond to insulin. Because of this the body’s blood sugar level increases. There are two main kinds of diabetes: Diabetes mellitus type 1 and diabetes mellitus type 2. The diabetes mellitus pathophysiology is similar in both types.  In type 1 DM the body produces little or no insulin. This is more common in children. A person with this condition will need daily insulin shots to avoid dangerously high sugar levels. That’s why it is also called insulin dependent diabetes mellitus. In type 2 DM there is insulin but the body cells are resistant to it. This kind of diabetes is called adult-onset DM because it usually occurs in adults over 40. It is predominant in people who overeat constantly and don’t exercise. Out of the two, this is the milder form because it progresses slowly and it can be managed with oral medication, exercise and a proper diet. Still, even if it is the “milder” form, type 2 DM should not be taken lightly. If left untreated it can have dangerous consequences.

Both types of diabetes still go back to the body’s relationship to insulin. The main function of insulin is to regulate fat and carbohydrate metabolism. It attaches itself to glucose and utilizes it as energy. Without insulin our body’s blood sugar levels would spike up.

The most common diabetes mellitus symptom is elevated blood sugar. For this reason, it is important that you regularly monitor your blood sugar levels. This can be done at home with the use of a glucometer and glucose monitoring strips. Other common symptoms are excessive thirst, excessive hunger, frequent urination, fatigue and weight loss. Hypertension can also result. High blood pressure and diabetes are closely related. They occur together a lot. Unfortunately, the presence of diabetes makes treating hypertension more challenging and vice versa. Both disease conditions often occur together because of certain similar physiological traits such as increased fluid volume, increased arterial stiffness and impaired insulin. They also have shared risk factors like obesity, low activity level and high salt, high fat diets.

When it comes to treating diabetes timing is important. You have to follow the correct timing in taking diabetic medications because ingesting it at the wrong time can lead to hypoglycemia. Diabetic hypoglycemia is a common event in people who take medications to decrease their blood sugar level. This condition however is more dangerous for those with type 1 DM because they have to depend on insulin injections for survival.

Another kind of diabetes is diabetes insipidus. This is marked by extreme thirst and diluted urine. The most common cause of diabetes insipidus is the lack of the hormone arginine vasopressine (AVP) – the body’s antidiuretic hormone. Without this hormone your body will continue to excrete large volumes of urine and this can lead to dehydration. If this is not controlled this can lead to loss of appétite, weight loss and sometimes blurred vision.

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