Diabetes Mellitus is a clinical syndrome related to hyperglycemia (increase in blood sugar). High blood sugar levels are due to absolute or relative deficiency of insulin. It is estimated that around 300 million people will be affected by the year 2010. That’s twice as many as was estimated in the year 2000.
Diabetes is of two types: TYPE I (insulin dependant diabetes mellitus) and TYPE II (non-insulin dependant diabetes mellitus). Causes of diabetes include: idiopathic, heredity, obesity, pancreatic disease, and drug induced, viral infections, associated with genetic syndromes like Turnerís syndrome, klienefelter syndrome, and Down syndrome.
Though different people may experience different symptoms the most common are:
- Frequent urination (even at night)
- Excessive thirst
- Dry skin
- Itchy skin
- Slow healing of cuts
- Blurry eyesight
- Always being very hungry
- Feeling tired and weak
- Weight loss
- Skin infections
- Numbness or tingling in feet