Understanding Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of diseases that affect how your body uses blood sugar (glucose), resulting in too much sugar in your blood.
Key Fact: Type 2 diabetes, the most common form, can often be prevented or delayed with a healthy lifestyle and weight management.
Common Symptoms
Excessive Thirst
Feeling intensely thirsty even after drinking plenty of water.
Frequent Urination
Needing to urinate much more often than usual, especially at night.
Extreme Hunger
Feeling constantly hungry even while eating regular meals.
Blurred Vision
High blood sugar levels pulling fluid from the lenses of your eyes.
Risk Factors
- Overweight or obesity
- Physical inactivity
- Family history
- Previous gestational diabetes
Diagnosis & Treatment
Diagnosis
Diagnosis involves measuring blood glucose levels after fasting or using a long-term average (A1C).
HbA1c Test
Fasting Blood Sugar Test
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test
Random Blood Sugar Test
Common Treatments
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Blood Sugar Monitoring: Regularly checking glucose levels to ensure they stay within Target range.
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Insulin Therapy: Injections or an insulin pump to manage blood sugar when the body cannot.
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Oral Medications: Drugs like metformin that help the body use insulin more effectively.