Diabetic mellitus is most commonly referred to as diabetes mellitus. It describes a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar. The term “diabetic” is derived from the Greek word for “siphon” to describe the excess discharge of urine caused by the disease. The term “mellitus” is derived from Latin; it means honey sweet. This term was first used in combination with the term “diabetes” in a medical text in 1675. A diabetic is someone who lives with the disease.

Life can be hard for a diabetic. In the midst of learning about having the disease, one must learn to change their whole lifestyle in order to keep their blood sugar levels under control. If they don’t, tragic complications such as kidney disease, nerve damage, eye conditions, and cardiovascular problems are sure to come about. Often depression and anxiety can affect someone with diabetic mellitus as …

Insulin dependent diabetes is form of diabetes that usually begins in childhood. It only accounts for 5% of the diabetes in the United States but is in some ways more dangerous and has a greater impact on a person’s life than non-insulin dependent diabetes. A person with insulin dependent diabetes can become sick very quickly. Simply eating the wrong way or taking medication wrong can cause a person to be hospitalized, go into a coma, or have a seizure.

Insulin is a hormone, made by the pancreas, which allows the glucose, or sugar, in the bloodstream to enter into cells and be converted into energy. In insulin dependent diabetes the pancreas makes little or no natural insulin. Damage to the pancreas could occur for a number of reasons, but in most cases of insulin dependent diabetes, the pancreatic cells are attacked by the body’s own immune system. The reason for …

What is a type 1 diabetic? A type 1 diabetic is dependent on medical insulin because their body does not make enough for them to survive. Insulin is the hormone which helps to convert sugar into energy. Without it blood sugar levels build up in the system and cause harm to the internal body. A type 1 diabetic used to be known as a juvenile diabetic, because this type of diabetes was thought to only occur in children and adolescents. We now know that it can occur at any age, although it still commonly begins in childhood.

A type 1 diabetic cannot take their life for granted like some of the rest of us do. They must constantly thrive to keep their blood sugar levels balanced at all times. Simply, skipping a meal can send a type 1 diabetic into a seriously dangerous state. In order to manage their blood …

Although there are three main types of diabetes, many people do not know that a many types of diabetes exist. The three main diabetes types are:

Type 1 diabetes – According to the National Diabetes Information Clearinghouse (NDIC) type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease is a type of condition in which the body’s immune system, which normally fights infection, turns against the body itself. In type 1 diabetes a person’s immune system attacks and destroys the beta cells in the pancreas which produce insulin. With little or no insulin being produced, a type 1 diabetic must inject insulin medically to survive. Although, this is not the most common of the diabetes types, diabetes type 1 is one of the most serious.

Type 1 diabetes used to be referred to as juvenile diabetes because it most often occurs in children and adolescents. However, it can be …

Diabetes ketoacidosis is a very serious condition that can lead to diabetic coma or even death. It typically happens in type 1 diabetes, but on rare occasions happens in type 2. In type 1 diabetes, the body either doesn’t produce insulin or does not produce enough insulin for the body to function properly. Without the needed insulin, cells can’t get the glucose, or sugar, they need to create energy for the body. Therefore, the body begins to burn fat for energy. This produces a byproduct called ketones. When ketones, which are acids, build up in the bloodstream they poison the body and this causes diabetes ketoacidosis.

Luckily, over-the-counter test strips can be bought to see if ketone levels are high in your urine. Experts suggest that you check your urine anytime you blood glucose level is higher than 240 mg/dL or anytime you are sick. According to Diabetes.org, the warning …

Type 1 DM, or type 1 diabetes mellitus, is a very serious form of diabetes. People who have it must monitor and control their blood sugar levels carefully, or they may lapse into diabetic coma, seizure, or even die. Normally type 1 DM begins in childhood, which is why it used to be called juvenile diabetes, but truly it can develop at any age.

Type 1 DM is an autoimmune disease, which means that the body’s immune system attacks and destroys its own cells. In type 1 DM the cells that are attacked are pancreatic beta cells, which have the function of creating insulin. Insulin is a very important hormone. It transfers sugar (glucose) from the bloodstream and into the cells. The cells then convert the sugar into energy. The body cannot survive without insulin. Since a type 1 diabetic can no longer produce enough insulin, due to the …

Diabetes and neuropathy are both very difficult conditions to have to contend with, and when they are both present, life can be extremely hard for a person to live. Diabetes neuropathy is one of the worst complications to come about from diabetes. Current studies show that 60% to 70% of people with diabetes suffer from some form of neuropathy, even if it is just a mild form.

So, what is neuropathy in diabetes like? Neuropathy in diabetes develops slowly. What happens is high blood sugar levels damage the nerves of the body. Neuropathy diabetes symptoms often include sensations of pain, numbness, tingling, or burning. According to RightDiagnosis.com these abnormal sensations will also extend to your legs, hands, and arms over time.

When a person has diabetes with neuropathy, the muscles can also become affected. This can lead to muscle weakness or a person may have difficulty moving their feet. Eventually …

What is diabetic retinopathy? Diabetic retinopathy is the most common diabetic eye disease. It is also the leading cause of blindness in working-age Americans, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. It is caused by damage to the blood vessels of the retina. The retina is the part of the eye which changes light and images that enter the eye into nerve signals which are then sent to the brain; it is the main portion of the eye which allows us to see.

High blood sugar levels lead to diabetic retinopathy. The risk of developing retinopathy grows the longer a person has diabetes. In fact, according to the National Institutes of Health, almost everyone who has had diabetes for over 30 years will show retinopathy diabetic signs. Diabetics are also at more of a risk if their blood sugar levels are poorly controlled.

Diabetic Retinopathy Symptoms

You …

What is diabetic neuropathy? Diabetic neuropathy is nerve damage which is caused by diabetes. Studies show that about 60 to 70 percent of diabetics have some form of nerve damage, as a matter of fact. The risk of nerve damage to a diabetic increases the longer they have the disease, and the risk is even greater in people who have trouble controlling their blood sugar levels. Having high blood pressure levels, cholesterol levels, triglyceride levels, and being overweight are also contributing factors.

Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy

Peripheral diabetic neuropathy is the main type of diabetic neuropathy that diabetics develop. This is nerve damage that begins in the limbs. The feet and legs are affected first, followed by the hands and arms. This type of neuropathy usually begins with tingling, numbness, or sharp pains in the toes or feet of the diabetic. The condition may evolve and lead to muscle weakness, …

What is pre diabetes? Pre diabetes is a condition in which you have higher than normal glucose levels, yet not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA) almost everyone has pre diabetes before they are diagnosed with type 2, and studies show that there are currently 79 million people who have pre diabetes in the United States alone. Research also shows that many of the conditions attributed to diabetes begin in this pre diabetes state.

Pre Diabetes Symptoms

Unfortunately, many times there are no pre diabetes symptoms. If they were clearer, there would probably be less of a diabetic epidemic in the world today. Sometimes people’s skin becomes darkened in certain areas like the neck, armpits, elbows, knees, and knuckles. This condition is called acanthosisnigricans, and it is caused by too high of insulin levels in the blood. This is …

What is juvenile diabetes? Juvenile diabetes is a very serious condition to have. Although, the condition does carry risks, it is not a death sentence by any means. By keeping careful control of blood sugar levels, people with juvenile diabetes go on to live very happy and complete lives. Many people with juvenile diabetes, in fact, go on to be very successful as a matter of fact. Mary Tyler Moore, Anne Rice, Halle Berry, and Nick Jonas are just a few examples (EveryDayHealth.com, 2012).

Juvenile diabetes is also known as “type 1 diabetes”. It is an autoimmune disease, which means that the body’s immune system attacks its own cells. In juvenile diabetes, it is the cells of the pancreas which are attacked, causing the body to be unable to make its own insulin. Insulin is the hormone which allows blood sugar to enter the cells and be converted into energy. …

What is syndrome X? Syndrome X is what is now often referred to as metabolic syndrome. It is the name given to a group of risk factors which, when found together, increase a person’s risk of developing coronary artery disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes. Syndrome x is also sometimes referred to as cardiometabolic syndrome, insulin resistance syndrome, Reaven’s syndrome, and in Australia, CHAOS (Wikipedia.org, 2012).

X Syndrome Symptoms

Extra weight carried in a person’s midsection is a major symptom of x syndrome. High blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol levels found together may indicate that you have syndrome x as well. If you have any of these symptoms, you may want to discuss with your doctor your risk of having or developing the condition.

Cardiac Syndrome X

Cardiac syndrome x (CSX) is often confused with metabolic syndrome x. CSX causes angina, which is chest …

What is type1 diabetes? Type1 diabetes is a type of diabetes where the body’s pancreas does not make enough insulin for the body to process blood sugar properly. It is believed to be an autoimmune disease in which the body’s own immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas which make insulin. A person cannot survive without insulin, so a type1 diabetic must take medical insulin shots several times a day.

Diabetes type1 can be a very serious condition to have. In this form, blood sugar levels must always be carefully monitored. If a diabetic takes his/her medications incorrectly, blood sugar levels can drop drastically leading to diabetic coma, seizures, or even death. For this reason people with type1 diabetes should learn and teach those around them the signs that a diabetic episode is occurring.

Type1 and Type2 Diabetes

The difference between type1 and type2 diabetes is that …

Type II diabetes is an epidemic in the world today. Type II diabetes accounts for 90% of the people with diabetes around the world.According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 346 million people worldwide have diabetes and studies from 2004 showed that an estimated 3.4 million people had died from the consequences of high blood sugar. It is predicted that diabetes deaths will double between 2005 and 2030.

This epidemic is largely due to excess body weight and physical inactivity, along with some genetic factors. Luckily, if a person maintains a normal weight, keeps a healthy diabetes ii diet, stays physically active, and avoids using tobacco, they can either prevent or delay the onset of type II diabetes. If more people were to live their lives this way, the numbers of people with diabetes would drop dramatically.

Diabetes II results from the body’s ineffective use of insulin. Insulin is the …

Type2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes mellitus. According to the 2011 National Diabetes Fact Sheet, 25.8 million children and adults in the United States have diabetes. That accounts for 8.3% of the population. Ninety percent of the people in the world with diabetes have type2 diabetes. Statistics also show that diabetes contributed to 231,404 deaths in 2007.

As you can see, diabetes is an epidemic not only in the United States, but throughout the world. Many cases of diabetes can be prevented or at least delayed with regular exercise and a healthy diet. The more people know about this condition, the more likely they are to begin making lifestyle choices that can help them avoid this horrible disease.

What is Type2 Diabetes?

Insulin is a hormone which is needed to move blood sugar (glucose) into the cells so that it can be converted into energy. Type2 …

Diabetes mellitus is usually referred to as diabetes.  It is a group of metabolic diseases in which are characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Normally glucose levels in the blood are controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas. Each form of diabetes mellitus results from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. The main types of mellitus diabetes are type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes.

Diabetes Mellitus Definition

The word Mellitus has Latin roots. It means “honey sweet”. The Greek Physician Aretaeus was first to name the condition “diabetes”, which means ‘a flowing through’, as a description of the constant thirst, weight loss, and excessive urination caused by the disease. According to Diabetes.co.uk, the documented history of diabetes have been found to root back all the way back to 1550 BC; it is described on an …

Type 2 DM is the most common form of diabetes mellitus; it accounts for 90% of the people with the disease. Currently 25.8 million U.S. children and adults have diabetes. That is 8.3% of the population. Sadly, it is estimated that 7 million of them are still not diagnosed. Additionally, surveys show that in 2007 diabetes was listed as the primary cause of death in 71,382 death certificates, and a total of 231, 404 deaths were contributed to diabetes, according to ConeHealth.com. Type 2 DM is a growing epidemic in the U.S. and around the world. It is even more unfortunate because many times Type 2 DM can be prevented if a person chooses to live a healthier lifestyle.

Type 2 DM is a metabolic disease in which the body does not utilize insulin properly. Insulin is the hormone used by the body to help the cells take in blood …

What is a pre diabetic? Before people have type-2 diabetes, they usually have “pre-diabetes”. A pre diabetic has blood glucose levels that are high, but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes. Some studies have shown that long-term damage, such as damage to the heart or circulatory system may already be occurring in this early stage of diabetes.

Luckily, one study has shown that pre diabetic people have a chance to prevent type-2 diabetes from developing. This Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) study shows conclusively that a pre diabetic person can accomplish this feat just by making changes in their diet and being physically active for 30 minutes or more each day. In fact, the DPP study proved that 30 minutes of physical activity, coupled with a weight reduction of 5-10%, produces a 58% reduction in diabetes (Diabetes.org, 2011).

Pre Diabetic Nutrition

Pre diabetic diets should be portion …

What is syndrome x syndrome? Syndrome X is another name for metabolic syndrome, which is a group of risk factors that occur together and increase the risk of coronary artery disease, stroke, and type-2 diabetes. According to the U.S. National Library of medicine syndrome x syndrome is becoming more and more common in the United States.

There are two major risk factors of metabolic syndrome. The first is excess weight in the middle and upper parts of the body. The second is insulin resistance, which means that the body cannot use insulin effectively. Other risk factors include age, hormone changes, lack of exercise, and a genetic predisposition.

“Anyone with a family history of type 2 diabetes who is overweight and sedentary should be evaluated for metabolic syndrome.” states Richard N. Fogoros, MD of About.com. He also states that the syndrome “can most often be prevented with exercise and maintaining …

What is the metabolic syndrome? Metabolic syndrome is a growing problem in America. Wikipedia.org that some studies have shown that it affects 25% of the US population. Metabolic syndrome may also be known as metabolic syndrome X, cardiometabolic syndrome, syndrome X, insulin resistance syndrome, Reaven’s syndrome (named for Gerald Reaven), and CHAOS (in Australia).

Metabolic Syndrome Definition

What is the metabolic syndrome definition? According to the National Institutes of Health, metabolic syndrome is the name for a group of risk factors that raises your risk for heart disease and other health problem, such as diabetes and stroke. The term “metabolic” refers to biochemical processes involved in the body’s normal functioning. Risk factors are traits, conditions, or habits that increase your chance of developing a disease.

Metabolic Syndrome Symptoms

What are the metabolic syndrome symptoms? Usually there are no outward symptoms of metabolic syndrome, aside from the …

What is type 1 diabetes? Type 1 diabetes is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is the hormone that is needed to allow sugar, or glucose, to enter the cells and produce energy. Type 1 diabetes used to be known as juvenile diabetes because it typically occurs in adolescence. However, it can develop at any age. Continue reading this article to learn more about type 1 diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes Symptoms

There are a range of symptoms that occur in diabetes type 1. Parents, in particular, who have a family history of diabetes, should be aware of these symptoms. This is because genetics do play a role in this disease, and the earlier it is diagnosed the better it is for a child who might be afflicted with the disease. If you notice any of the following type 1 diabetes symptoms, be …

What is type 2 diabetes? This article focuses on different aspects of this question. Type 2 diabetes, formally known as type 2 diabetes mellitus, is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolizes sugar (glucose), which is you body’s main source of fuel. This disease has been described as a growing epidemic; millions of people have been diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in America alone. Almost everyone knows someone with the disease. This is why it is so important for people to learn about type 2 diabetes and ways that it can be prevented.

How do you get type 2 diabetes? Genetics and environmental factors both play a role in how you get this disease. Diabetes does run in families, but if you are related to someone that has the disease it is not written in stone that someday you might have it. Recent studies have shown …