Diabetes Mellitus

Chapter I Introduction to Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is a condition that affects the way the body uses food. A genetically determined disorder of metabolism, it is manifested by insulin deficiency and the inability to tolerate carbohydrates.

Diabetes in a completely developed state is characterized by

Fasting hyperglycemia
Microangiopathic and arteriosclerotic vascular disease
Neuropathy

The incidence of diabetes is high, with more than 16 million Americans having some form of the disease. More than 700,000 new cases are diagnosed each year.

The term diabetes covers a wide spectrum of disability ranging from the elderly, a symptomatic individual with glucose intolerance, to the young patient dependent on exogenous insulin.

The manifestation of diabetes mellitus can be divided into two main groups:

The acute diabetic syndrome characterized by hyperglycemia, ketoacidosis, and if untreated, death.
The chronic diabetic characterized by diffuse microangiopathy involving vital tissue.

Diabetes has a heterogeneous etiology. Different types of lesions may lead to insulin insufficiency along with environmental factors, causing an alteration in the function and integrity of the beta cells in the pancreas. The factors include pregnancy, diet, obesity, and infective agents such as the mumps virus.

Next: The Role of Insulin