Diabetes mellitus, often simply referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic diseases in which a person has high blood sugar, either because the body does not produce enough insulin, or because cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. This high blood sugar produces the classical symptoms of polyuria, frequent urination, polydipsia, increased thirst and polyphagia, increased hunger.
The classical symptoms of diabetes are polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia. Symptoms may develop rapidly within weeks or months in type 1 diabetes, while in type 2 diabetes they usually develop much more slowly and may be subtle or absent.
Prolonged high blood glucose causes glucose absorption, which leads to changes in the shape of the lenses of the eyes, resulting in vision changes. Sustained and sensible glucose control usually returns the lens to its original shape. Blurred vision is a common complaint leading to a diabetes diagnosis. Type 1 should always be suspected in cases of rapid vision change, whereas with type 2 change is generally more gradual, but should still be suspected.
People with type 1 diabetes may also present diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a state of metabolic dysregulation characterized by the smell of acetone; a rapid, deep breathing known as Kussmaul breathing; nausea; vomiting and abdominal pain; and altered states of consciousness.
A rarer but equally severe possibility is hyperosmolar nonketotic state, which is more common in type 2 diabetes and is mainly the result of dehydration. Often, the patient has been drinking extreme amounts of sugar-containing drinks, leading to a vicious circle in regard to the water loss.
A number of skin rashes can occur in diabetes that are collectively known as diabetic dermadromes.
Another symptom is Diabetic nephropathy, also known as Kimmelstiel-Wilson syndrome, which is a progressive kidney disease caused by angiopathy of capillaries in the kidney glomeruli. It is characterized by nephrotic syndrome and diffuse glomerulosclerosis. It is due to longstanding diabetes mellitus. As this affects water retention it can lead to swelling of the legs and feet.
The classical symptoms of diabetes are polyuria, polydipsia and polyphagia. Symptoms may develop rapidly within weeks or months in type 1 diabetes, while in type 2 diabetes they usually develop much more slowly and may be subtle or absent.
Prolonged high blood glucose causes glucose absorption, which leads to changes in the shape of the lenses of the eyes, resulting in vision changes. Sustained and sensible glucose control usually returns the lens to its original shape. Blurred vision is a common complaint leading to a diabetes diagnosis. Type 1 should always be suspected in cases of rapid vision change, whereas with type 2 change is generally more gradual, but should still be suspected.
People with type 1 diabetes may also present diabetic ketoacidosis, which is a state of metabolic dysregulation characterized by the smell of acetone; a rapid, deep breathing known as Kussmaul breathing; nausea; vomiting and abdominal pain; and altered states of consciousness.
A rarer but equally severe possibility is hyperosmolar nonketotic state, which is more common in type 2 diabetes and is mainly the result of dehydration. Often, the patient has been drinking extreme amounts of sugar-containing drinks, leading to a vicious circle in regard to the water loss.
A number of skin rashes can occur in diabetes that are collectively known as diabetic dermadromes.
Another symptom is Diabetic nephropathy, also known as Kimmelstiel-Wilson syndrome, which is a progressive kidney disease caused by angiopathy of capillaries in the kidney glomeruli. It is characterized by nephrotic syndrome and diffuse glomerulosclerosis. It is due to longstanding diabetes mellitus. As this affects water retention it can lead to swelling of the legs and feet.
