Diabetes Mellitus Overview

Diabetes Mellitus

• Defined as insulin secretion issues and variable peripheral insulin resistance leading to hyperglycemia
• Two main categories:
  • Type 1 (Infant): Absolute insulin deficiency
  • Type 2: Insulin sufficient or not; resistance or not
• Symptoms include:
  • Polydipsia
  • Polyphagia
  • Polyuria
  • Blurred vision

Signs and Symptoms

• Slow healing of wounds
• Frequent urination
• Unexplained weight loss
• Numbness of hands and feet
• Fungal infections (itching skin and genitals)
• Constant hunger
• Blurred vision

Complications

• Microvascular disease underlies three common and devastating manifestations:
  • Retinopathy
  • Nephropathy
  • Neuropathy
• Macrovascular disease involves atherosclerosis of large vessels, leading to:
  • Angina pectoris
  • Myocardial infarction
  • Transient ischemic attacks
  • Strokes
  • Peripheral arterial disease
• Other complications include:
  • Eye damage
  • Permanent kidney damage
  • Cerebrovascular diseases
  • Coronary heart disease
  • Peripheral neuropathy
  • Diabetic foot

Laboratory Diagnosis

• Fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels
• Glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c)

Screening for Complications

• Foot examination: Checks for nerve damage, poor blood flow, or wounds.
• Funduscopic examination: Looks at the retina to detect early eye damage (diabetic retinopathy).
• Urine testing for albuminuria: Detects protein in urine to identify early kidney damage.
• Serum creatinine and lipid profile: Measures kidney function and cholesterol levels to assess heart and kidney health.

Treatment

• Diet and exercise
• Type 1 diabetes: Insulin
• Type 2 diabetes: Oral antihyperglycemics

Goals for Glycemic Control

• Pre-prandial blood sugar: 80-130 mg/dL
• Postprandial blood sugar: <180 mg/dL
• HbA1c: <7%

Prevention of Type 2 Diabetes

• Lifestyle modification:
  • Weight loss of 7% of baseline body weight
  • Moderate-intensity physical activity (eg, walking 30 minutes/day)
• May reduce the incidence of diabetes in high-risk people by >50%

How to Avoid Diabetes

• Manage weight: Achieve a healthy weight and monitor weight gain.
• Exercise: Exercise helps maintain a healthy weight and manage stress.
• Eat healthy: Diet low in saturated fats and sugars to maintain a healthy weight and blood sugar levels.
• Rest: Everyone needs adequate rest, sleep and stress management.

This quiz covers the essential aspects of Diabetes Mellitus, including its definition, types, symptoms, and complications. Test your understanding of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, common signs, and the severe complications that may arise from this condition. Perfect for students studying health sciences or anyone interested in diabetes awareness.