DIABETES MELLITUS (D.M.)

Diabetes is a condition characterized by higher amount of sugar present in blood and passage of sugar through urine. Patients suffering from Diabetes may complain of excessive hunger, thirst and higher frequency of urination. Sometimes there may not be any symptoms at all. There may also delays in healing of wounds. In some people diabetes is hereditary.

Diagnosis is made by examining the blood and urine for the presence of sugar. The fasting blood sugar is below 110 mg/dilution and post meal sugar is below 180 mg/dilution. A Glucometer is used to measure the blood sugar.

There are two types of Diabetes. Type I or Juvenile Diabetes is usually seen in children. This condition is characterized by destruction of beta cells in the pancreas (non functioning pancreas) so that there is a total absence of insulin in the blood. Patients of juvenile diabetes are totally dependent on the supply of insulin from outside. Insulin is not effective orally and has to be taken by parenteral route. These days different varieties of insulin are available like Bovine Insulin, Pig Insulin and Human Insulin. If insulin is not taken regularly and in appropriate dosage, patients can go in to diabetic coma, which can be a fatal condition if not treated properly.

Type II or Adult Diabetes usually seen in middle-aged people. With this condition, insulin is adequately secreted by the beta cells in the pancreas. However, effectiveness of insulin becomes reduced due to several other factors. So there is increased need for insulin. This condition can be controlled by exercise, proper & balanced diet and with the help of oral anti-diabetic drugs.

Regular exercise like brisk walking is quite effective to control blood sugar.

Diabetes is not curable. Symptoms can be controlled with the help of drugs and complications can be postponed. Complications of diabetes are gangrene, blindness, hypertension and heart disease.

In diabetes, the main effect is though sugar is present in abundance in the blood, it cannot cross the cell membrane and therefore it cannot be utilized as energy by the body. It is poverty amongst plenty.

Insulin and other anti-diabetic drugs facilitate the passage of sugar across the cell membrane so it can be utilized as energy.

In the future, transplants of beta cells from stem cells and also transplants of a proper gene will give new hope to patients of diabetes. Genetic treatment and stem cell research can give new life to diabetes patients.