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History of Diabetes

The term diabetes is the shortened version of the full name diabetes mellitus. Diabetes mellitus is derived from the Greek word diabetes meaning siphon - to pass through and the Latin word mellitus meaning honeyed or sweet. This is because in diabetes excess sugar is found in blood as well as the urine. It was known in the 17th century as the “pissing evil”.

3 Dec 2009

Diabetes Management

Diabetes is characterized by a lack of insulin and high and uncontrolled blood sugar. The earlier the blood sugar is brought under control, the better it is to prevent long term complications. There are several approaches to managing diabetes.

3 Dec 2009

Diabetes Screening

Diabetes diagnosis and screening are two different entities. Diagnosis is usually undertaken when an individual exhibits symptoms or signs of the disease. The purpose of screening is to identify high risk and non-symptomatic individuals who are likely to have diabetes. Separate diagnostic tests using standard criteria are used in screening for diabetes.

3 Dec 2009

Diabetes Diagnosis

Diabetes is diagnosed by performing a blood test. The test usually reveals high blood glucose.

3 Dec 2009

Diabetes Pathophysiology

Diabetes occurs when there is a dis-balance between the demand and production of the hormone insulin.

3 Dec 2009

Diabetes Symptoms

All types of diabetes have similar symptoms because the symptoms usually arise from high blood sugar.

3 Dec 2009

Diabetes Types

There are two major types of diabetes. These are type 1 and type 2 diabetes. The other types are less common and they include gestational diabetes or pregnancy-induced diabetes.

3 Dec 2009

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition where the body fails to utilize the ingested glucose properly. This could be due to lack of the hormone insulin or because the insulin that is available is not working effectively.

3 Dec 2009

Animals That Can Detect Hypoglycemia

Some experts suggest that animals such as dogs can help detect hypoglycemia in patients.

3 Dec 2009

Hypoglycemic Unawareness

Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar is a problem that arises in the management of diabetes. Diabetes mellitus usually describes a persistently high blood sugar. However, various factors can cause blood sugar to plummet such as taking too much antidiabetic medication, engaging in vigorous exercise which can deplete the body of sugar, drinking too much alcohol or missing meals or snacks.

3 Dec 2009

Diabetic Hypoglycemia Treatments

People with diabetes are at an increased risk of diabetic hypoglycemia. This is most commonly caused by an overdose of insulin or other hypoglycemic agents, particularly if the overdose coincides with a delayed or missed meal, alcohol intake, or more physical exertion than usual. Hypoglycemia needs to be identified and treated early, before it progresses to diabetic coma.

3 Dec 2009

Diabetic Hypoglycemia Etiology

Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar refers to when blood levels of glucose drop to a below normal level.

3 Dec 2009

What is Diabetic Hypoglycemia?

Hypoglycemia or low blood sugar is a condition where blood levels of glucose drop below a critical level. Glucose provides energy for various bodily functions and is therefore vital for survival.

3 Dec 2009

Living With Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a lifelong condition that affects people in several ways. Eventually, a persistently high blood sugar level leads to several complications that can significantly impair quality of life. Managing the disease carefully by regularly monitoring blood glucose, taking medication on time and adhering to diet plans and exercise regimens can reduce the risk of complications to a large extent.

3 Dec 2009

Type 2 Diabetes Treatment

Diabetes is characterized by an abnormally high blood sugar level which can lead to serious complications. The earlier the high blood sugar is detected and brought under control, the greater the chance of preventing long term complications of the condition.

3 Dec 2009

Type 2 Diabetes Screening and Prevention

Diabetes screening refers to the assessment of apparently healthy individuals with no symptoms of type 2 diabetes to check for type 2 diabetes, so the condition can be detected and treated before it progresses any further. Screening is recommended for high risk individuals who are likely to develop diabetes.

3 Dec 2009

Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis

Diabetes is diagnosed using tests to assess blood glucose levels. The basic problem in diabetes is the presence of high levels of sugar in the blood and urine which leads to various complications.

3 Dec 2009

Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms

Type 2 diabetes is typically characterized by high blood sugar. The blood sugar is high because the insulin-induced uptake of glucose from the blood by various cells of the body is either reduced or absent. The progression of type 2 diabetes usually occurs gradually, over many years.

3 Dec 2009

Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Pathophysiology

Type 2 diabetes is caused by either inadequate production of the hormone insulin or a lack of response to insulin by various cells of the body.

3 Dec 2009

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a common metabolic condition that develops when the body fails to produce enough insulin or when insulin fails to work properly, which is referred to as insulin resistance. Insulin is the hormone that stimulates cells to uptake glucose from the blood to use for energy.

3 Dec 2009