Diabetes Mellitus is a disorder of metabolism the way our bodies use digested food for growth and energy.

Most of the food we eat is broken down into glucose, in the form of sugar in the blood. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body. After digestion, glucose passes into the bloodstream, where it is used by cells for growth and energy. For glucose to get into cells, insulin must be present. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach. When we eat, the pancreas automatically produces the right amount of insulin to move glucose from blood into our cells.

In people with diabetes, however, the pancreas either produces too little or no insulin, or the cells do not respond appropriately to the insulin that is produced. Therefore, glucose builds up in the blood (hyperglycaemia); the excess overflows into the urine and passes out of the body.

Thus, the body loses its main source of fuel even though the blood contains large amounts of glucose.

Diabetes Mellitus Type 1  (DMT1)

• “Insulin Dependent Diabetes” or “Juvenile-Onset Diabetes.
• 5 to 15 % of all diabetics.
• Starts between 10 and 16 years of age, before 30th year, sudden onset.
• Reason: hereditary and/or viral and/or autoimmune disease -> destruction of beta cells and (almost) directly lack of insulin.
• No association to being overweight.
• Therapy: control blood sugar levels by means of a well-balanced diet and administer insulin (quick acting or long acting), avoid blood sugar peaks as much as possible, as it can lead to diabetes complications.

Diabetes type 2

Complications

Diabetes worldwide

Diet advice

Metabolic Syndrome

Symptoms