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Mellitus

A chronic disease which causes serious health complications, diabetes mellitus consists of two classifications: type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Both types may have similar diabetic symptoms: fatigue, frequent urination, extreme thirst, and hunger. Both types may have somewhat the same diabetic treatment, as well: a diabetes diet, diabetic weight control, some kind of daily exercise and/or activity, oral diabetic medications, and/or daily insulin injections. All these are vital in managing diabetes. Furthermore, both type diabetics will need medical supervision on a regular basis, usually every three months (depending on the severity of the diabetes).

The routine diabetic examination will involve diabetes testing. Some of this testing will include taking a fasting blood sugar count; analyzing the urine of the diabetic for any ketones; and running a cholesterol test panel. Also, the physician will complete the routine examination: taking blood pressure, weighing the diabetic, monitoring the heart, and examining the diabetic’s mouth, eyes, ears, and feet. The physician may also want the patient to undergo an EKG (electrocardiography) which measures the heartbeat’s electrical activity. If any signs of further diabetes complications show up, the doctor may send the diabetic to a specialist, such as an ophthalmologist or cardiologist. Some diabetic complications will include renal failure, stroke, heart disease, blindness, or amputations.

The very basic cause of both types of mellitus is from the lack of insulin or the occurrence of insulin resistance in body cells, preventing them from absorbing glucose from the bloodstream. With little or no insulin produced by the pancreas, excess blood sugar levels raise abnormally. Unable to use this extra glucose, or blood sugar, the body reacts by developing hyperglycemia, an irregular surplus of blood glucose.

However, there are some differences between the two types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is often called “juvenile diabetes” and usually begins in childhood or adolescence. It develops rather quickly and without notice; and affects about three people in 1,000 within the United States. Type 1 diabetes will develop more commonly in people of Northern European heritage from such countries as: Scandinavia, Finland, and Scotland. It is less found in those who have Southern European roots, Asian heritage, or Middle Eastern background. Whereas Hispanics/Latinos, African Americans, Native Americans, and Pacific Islanders are more predisposed to developing type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus 1 is also called insulin-dependent diabetes since individuals with this type of mellitus need daily injections of insulin to maintain a normal glucose level. In diabetes type 1, the pancreas beta cells may be killed by the immune system of the body or by some disease such as pancreatitis. Regardless of the reason for the destruction of these cells, the beta cells (which are from the pancreas) produce the insulin; and if destroyed, the body’s much needed insulin either grows diminished or it entirely disappears.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is sometimes known as adult onset diabetes and may not develop in an individual’s life until much later at least 40 or older. It also develops gradually as the body grows less able to produce insulin or the cells develop insulin resistance. Being overweight and inactive, having some cancers, smoking, and heredity can all be sources that cause type 2 diabetes mellitus.

To maintain diabetes control and further reduce the risks of developing complications, both type 1 and type 2 diabetics will need to make a practice of daily diabetes monitoring by using a glucometer (glucose meter) to test their blood sugar levels. They should always follow their doctors’ orders, closely abiding by good health habits and earnestly practicing good diabetes management. Certainly, both type diabetics can control the mellitus.

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