Diabetes - diabetes mellitus

• Symptoms:

  • High blood glucose concentration
  • Presence of glucose in urine
  • Fatigue
• Diabetes causes low water potential, which causes:

  Water to move out of the cells into blood..

  • High blood pressure
  • Organ damage due to high blood pressure (e.g. eyes)
  • Peripheral nerve damage
  • Frequent urination
• Type 1 I.D.D.M

  Causes: The immune system attacks beta-cells meaning they cannot produce insulin. This may be cause by a genetic predisposition or triggered by a viral infection.
• Type 1 I.D.D.M

  Control: Insulin therapy; insulin injections or insulin pump. May result in hypoglycaemia.

  Eating regularly and controlling carbohydrate intake.
• Type 2 N.I.D.D.M

  Causes: Beta cells don't produce enough insulin or the body's cells don't respond properly to insulin. (This is due to receptors not working.) Often linked to obesity, lack of exercise, age and poor diet.
• Type 2 N.I.D.D.M

  Control: Eating healthily, balanced diet, losing weight, regular exercise.

  Glucose-lowering medication.