Diabetes Mellitus

Type 2 Diabetes Slideshow Quiz: Are You At Risk for Diabetic Nerve Pain? Diabetes and Foot Problems Slideshow

Medical Author: Ruchi Mathur, MD
Medical Editor: William C. Shiel, Jr., MD, FACP, FACR

• What is diabetes?
• What is the impact of diabetes?
• What causes diabetes?
• What are the different types of diabetes?
• What are diabetes symptoms?
• How is diabetes diagnosed?
• Why is blood sugar checked at home?
• What are the acute complications of diabetes?
• What are the chronic complications of diabetes?
• What can be done to slow diabetes complications?
• Diabetes At A Glance
• Type 2 Diabetes - Slideshow
• Quiz: Are You At Risk for Diabetic Nerve Pain?
• Diabetes and Foot Problems - Slideshow
• Patient Discussions: Diabetes - Symptoms at Onset of Disease

Featured diabetes patient discussions on symptoms of the onset of diabetes "Four years ago, I started getting very tired. I felt as if I were drugged after eating. I couldn't stay awake and would have to go to bed. Sometimes, I would get very thirsty and run to the bathroom. I was 58 then and started gaining weight. I was so sluggish. A year later, I was diagnosed with diabetes and hypertension. Finally, things are under control and life feels wonderful. There is no history of diabetes in my family" "My symptoms began with "hot flashes." I thought I needed to increase my dosage of Premarin. I am the first person in my family ever to be diagnosed with diabetes. I am also the first one in my family to become obese." "The only symptom that I had was tingling in my legs especially at night after I retired to bed. The tingling became more severe where I could not get them to stop. I thought I had restless leg syndrome. My doctor tested me for diabetes and found that I had type II diabetes and the sugar was attacking my legs because it had no place to go. He put me on a sugar free diet and Actos and within one to two days my symptom were gone" Read All Comments on Diabetes » Top Searched Diabetes Terms: diabetes symptoms, gestational diabetes, type 1 diabetes, diabetes treatment, diabetes risk factors, diabetes diagnosis, pre diabetes, diabetes prevention, diabetes warning signs, diabetes and vision, diabetes supplies Patient Discussions are not a substitute for professional medical advice, or treatment. See the disclaimer at the bottom of the comments page.

What is diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels, that result from defects in insulin secretion, or action, or both. Diabetes mellitus, commonly referred to as diabetes (as it will be in this article) was first identified as a disease associated with "sweet urine," and excessive muscle loss in the ancient world. Elevated levels of blood glucose (hyperglycemia) lead to spillage of glucose into the urine, hence the term sweet urine.

Normally, blood glucose levels are tightly controlled by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin lowers the blood glucose level. When the blood glucose elevates (for example, after eating food), insulin is released from the pancreas to normalize the glucose level. In patients with diabetes, the absence or insufficient production of insulin causes hyperglycemia. Diabetes is a chronic medical condition, meaning that although it can be controlled, it lasts a lifetime.

What is the impact of diabetes?

Over time, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney failure, and nerve damage. These types of damage are the result of damage to small vessels, referred to as microvascular disease. Diabetes is also an important factor in accelerating the hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis), leading to strokes, coronary heart disease, and other large blood vessel diseases. This is referred to as macrovascular disease. Diabetes affects approximately 17 million people (about 8% of the population) in the United States. In addition, an estimated additional 12 million people in the United States have diabetes and don't even know it.

From an economic perspective, the total annual cost of diabetes in 1997 was estimated to be 98 billion dollars in the United States. The per capita cost resulting from diabetes in 1997 amounted to $10,071.00; while healthcare costs for people without diabetes incurred a per capita cost of $2,699.00. During this same year, 13.9 million days of hospital stay were attributed to diabetes, while 30.3 million physician office visits were diabetes related. Remember, these numbers reflect only the population in the United States. Globally, the statistics are staggering.

Diabetes is the third leading cause of death in the United States after heart disease and cancer.

Diabetes - Symptoms at Onset of Disease

The MedicineNet physician editors ask:

The symptoms of diabetes can vary greatly from patient to patient. What were your symptoms at the onset of your disease?

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