What is diabetes?

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar

(glucose) levels that result from defects in insulin secretion, or its action, or both.
commonly referred to as diabetes
was first identified as a disease associated with "sweet urine," and excessive muscle loss
in the ancient world.
Elevated levels of blood glucose (hyperglycemia) lead to spillage of glucose into the
urine, hence the term sweet urine.
3 major types of diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is also called insulin-dependent diabetes. It used to be called
juvenile-onset diabetes, because it often begins in childhood.
Type 2 Diabetes the most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes, used to be
called adult-onset diabetes.
Gestational Diabetes Diabetes that's triggered by pregnancy is called gestational
diabetes (pregnancy, to some degree, leads to insulin resistance).
Signs and Symptoms of diabetes, and sometimes there may be no signs. Some of the signs
commonly experienced include:
Frequent urination
Excessive thirst
Increased hunger
Weight loss
Tiredness
Lack of interest and concentration
A tingling sensation or numbness in the hands or feet
Blurred vision
Frequent infections
Slow-healing wounds
Vomiting and stomach pain (often mistaken as the flu)
Risk Factors for Type 1 Diabetes
Genetics and family history. Having family members with diabetes is a major risk
factor. The American Diabetes Association recommends that anyone with a first-degree
relative with type 1 diabetes -- a mother, father, sister, or brother -- should get screened
for diabetes. A simple blood test can diagnose type 1 diabetes.
Diseases of the pancreas. Injury or diseases of the pancreas can inhibit its ability to
produce insulin and lead to type 1 diabetes.
Infection or illness. A range of relatively rare infections and illnesses can damage the
pancreas and cause type 1 diabetes.

Risk factors for type 2 diabetes
Overweight
Unhealthy diet
Physical inactivity
Increasing age
High blood pressure
Ethnicity
Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT)*
History of gestational diabetes
Poor nutrition during pregnancy
Family history of diabetes
Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes
Obesity or being overweight. Being obese or overweight puts women at risk of
gestational diabetes.
Previous glucose intolerance. A history of glucose intolerance or previous gestational
diabetes increases the risk of gestational diabetes in a current pregnancy.
Family history. A family history of diabetes -- a parent or sibling who's been diagnosed
with diabetes -- increases the risk of gestational diabetes.
Age. The older a woman is when she becomes pregnant, the higher her risk of gestational
diabetes.