Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder, characterised by raised glucose levels in blood (hyperglycaemia) and urine (glycosuria). The cause may be inherited and/or acquired deficiency of insulin production by the pancreas, or insulin resistance, where the insulin produced is ineffective. Increased blood glucose concentrations can cause structural damage, particularly to blood vessels and nerves. Microvascular complications of diabetes (diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy and neuropathy) bring problems of blindness, kidney failure, foot ulcers, gangrene and erectile impotence. However, heart disease accounts for around 50% of deaths of people with diabetes. Management involves striving to maintain blood glucose at near-normal levels through behaviour change and medication, prevention or early detection and treatment of microvascular complications and reduction of cardiovascular risk, including hypertension, lipids and weight