What is Diabetes Melitus?

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Diabetes Mellitus(DM)
• Is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar.
• An estimated 227 to 285 million people had diabetes in 2010, with type 2 making up about 90% of the cases. This is equal to 3.3% of the population with equal rates in both women and men. In 2011 it resulted in 1.4 million deaths worldwide making it the 8th leading cause of death.
• There are three types of Diabetes
• Type 1 – Insulin dependent, results from the body's failure to produce insulin. Also known as Juvenile diabetes.
• Type 2 – Insulin resistant, cells fail to use insulin properly, sometimes also with an absolute insulin deficiency. Also known as Adult onset diabetes.
• Gestational diabetes - occurs when pregnant women without a previous diagnosis of diabetes develop a high blood glucose level.

• History of Diabetes
• Clinical features similar to diabetes mellitus were described 3000 years ago by the ancient Egyptians. The term "diabetes" was first coined by Araetus of Cappodocia.
• The word mellitus (honey sweet) was added by Thomas Willis (Britain) in 1675 after rediscovering the sweetness of urine and blood of patients (first noticed by the ancient Indians). And then confirmed In 1776 by Dobson (Britain).
• In 1857 Claude Bernard (France) discovered an important milestone in the history of diabetes, the establishment of the role of the liver in glycogenesis, and the concept that diabetes is due to excess glucose production.
• In 1889 Mering and Minkowski (Austria) discovered the role of the pancreas in pathogenesis of diabetes. Later in 1921, this discovery constituted the basis of insulin isolation and clinical use discovered by Banting and Best (Canada).
• In 1955, Trials to prepare an orally administrated hypogly...

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...tion and some careers or positions don’t make that time accessible.
• Financial changes: It can be hard on a person financially to pay for the costs diabetes brings along with it. If you don’t have medical it can be expensive and if you do Co-pays can still be high. You need to pay for Blood monitoring equipment (Glucometer), test strips, medication and insulin. Life insurance may also be more difficult and more expensive, if you're even able to get it for someone with diabetes. Costs of a change in diet and memberships to the gym, or the purchase of exercise equipment, are all things that also need to be considered.

• Doctors and dietitians, counselors, or other specialists can help a person to adjust to their new life. Diabetes is a manageable condition, and it is well worth the time and effort to discover what will keep a person with Diabetes feeling their best.

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