Risks of Diabetes Mellitus

There are two common forms of diabetes mellitus and each must be managed carefully for the risks to be reduced. In type I diabetes, also known as insulin dependent diabetes mellitus and formerly known as Juvenile Diabetes, the pancreas of the affected individual fails to produce insulin. The body requires insulin for the break-down and uptake of glucose and starches to produce energy for its cells. This was formerly called juvenile diabetes because most of the individuals diagnosed with type I diabetes are children or young adults. Type II diabetes, which is also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus, has a later onset. This type of diabetes is mainly due to an insensitivity of the insulin receptors of the cells, which is acquired throughout the individual’s lifetime. Lifestyle factors usually account for the development of this resistance, and is normally attributed to obesity. The pancreas can produce insulin normally, but the bodies cells cannot recognize the insulin and therefore cannot break down the glucose to produce the required energy.

Diabetes causes a host of complications, and raises the risk for many other serious problems. Individuals with diabetes often have problems with hyperglycemia. Hyperglycemia is the technical term for high blood sugar, and this causes many of the complications of diabetes. The most important problem that can be caused by hyperglycemia is ketoacidosis. When the body’s blood sugar is high, it means the cells are not successfully converting the glucose to energy. Since the cells are starved for energy they begin breaking down fats. Side products of this breakdown are ketones. Excess ketones build up in the body and lower the blood pH making it acidic. Symptoms include shortness of breath, sweat smelling breath, nausea and vomiting, and dry mouth. These symptoms need to be recognized quickly because the end result of ketoacidosis is a diabetic coma, which is life-threatening.

Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, can also be common for individuals that are treating their diabetes. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include; sweating, hunger, shakiness, dizziness, headache, pale skin, clumsy or jerky movements, difficulty paying attention, sudden mood changes, and seizures. Some individuals may not be aware of hypoglycemia and may lose consciousness. This can cause problems depending on the environment the person is in when they lose consciousness, and emergency help should be sought immediately if this occurs.

Some of the long term effects of diabetes are the most damaging to individuals with the disorder. Diabetes can lead to blindness, reduce capability for healing, damage to the nerves causing loss of feeling in feet and legs, reduce blood flow to extremities, damage to blood vessels, foot complications leading to amputations, and skin complications.

Diabetes greatly raises the risk of developing heart disease, and stroke due to poor circulation. Kidney disease is also common in individuals with diabetes. The kidneys have to filter excess blood sugar and excrete it in the urine. After long term filtering, the kidneys become damaged and are less capable of filtering correctly. Reduced function of the kidneys could lead to dialysis (use of artificial filtering machines), kidney transplants, or death.