Basic Information About Diabetes

Diabetes refers to a group of metabolic disorders (which are quite common and becoming commoner or increasing in incidence) which share a common sign i.e. high blood sugar level or hyperglycemia. There are several types of diabetes and all of these are characterized by hyperglycemia and develop signs and symptoms of hyperglycemia. The cause of diabetes is complex and generally genetic and environmental factors play a role in its causation.

The cause of hyperglycemia in diabetes can be due to reduced insulin secretion, insulin resistance in presence of normal or near normal insulin secretion, decreased utilization of glucose by the diabetic individual or it may be due to increased production of glucose. The cause of decreased insulin secretion or insulin resistance can be different in different type of diabetes.

Broadly diabetes can be divided into type-I diabetes, type-II diabetes, MODY (maturity onset diabetes of the young), gestational diabetes (occurs during pregnancy only) and other types. Out of all these, type-II is the commonest type of diabetes and has strong genetic factor involvement.

Diabetes can cause secondary pathophysiologic changes in multiple organ systems due to metabolic disorders which are associated with diabetes. Due to secondary pathophysiological changes in multiple organ systems, the involved organ systems may not function to the optimal state and lead to several complications of diabetes. The common complications of diabetes involve eye (cataract, diabetic retinopathy etc. and cause blindness), kidney and urinary system, heart and cardiovascular system, central nervous system, increased incidences of infection, gastrointestinal problems, delayed healing of injuries etc.