Diabetes mellitus is a long-term disease in which the level of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high. This happens when the body does not make enough insulin, or cannot use insulin properly. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas that helps glucose move from the blood into cells for energy.
Main types
- Type 1 diabetes: The immune system destroys the insulin-making cells of the pancreas. The person needs insulin every day. It can begin at any age.
- Type 2 diabetes: The most common type. The body becomes resistant to insulin and gradually may not make enough. It is associated with family history, excess body weight, inactivity, and increasing age, though it can occur in anyone.
- Gestational diabetes: Diabetes first recognized during pregnancy.
- There are also less common forms caused by certain medicines, pancreatic diseases, or genetic conditions.
Common symptoms
Some people with type 2 diabetes have no symptoms for years. Possible symptoms include:
- Frequent urination, especially at night
- Excessive thirst and hunger
- Unexplained weight loss
- Tiredness or weakness
- Blurred vision
- Slow-healing cuts or repeated infections
- Tingling or numbness in hands or feet
Type 1 symptoms may begin quickly and can be severe. The
CDC symptom guide explains that type 1 and type 2 often share these symptoms, while type 2 may develop very gradually.
Treatment
Treatment depends on the type and the individual, but the goals are to control glucose and prevent complications involving the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart, and blood vessels.
For everyone
- Healthy, balanced meals with attention to carbohydrate portions
- Regular physical activity
- Weight reduction if recommended
- Monitoring blood glucose, with a finger-stick meter or continuous glucose monitor when advised
- Regular checks of blood pressure, cholesterol, feet, eyes, kidneys, and HbA1c
Type 1 diabetes
- Insulin is essential, given by injections or an insulin pump
- Meal planning and glucose monitoring are also needed
Type 2 diabetes
- Lifestyle changes may be sufficient early on for some people.
- Medicines may be needed, such as metformin and other glucose-lowering drugs. Some people require insulin.
- The choice depends on glucose level, body weight, kidney/heart disease, cost, side effects, and personal circumstances. The CDC overview of type 2 diabetes notes that healthy eating and activity remain important even when medicine or insulin is used.
When to seek urgent care
Get urgent medical help if there is vomiting, abdominal pain, deep or fast breathing, confusion, severe drowsiness, or a fruity-smelling breath, especially with very high blood sugar. These can indicate diabetic ketoacidosis, a potentially life-threatening emergency.
A clinician can diagnose diabetes using blood tests such as fasting blood glucose, HbA1c, or an oral glucose-tolerance test. Do not start diabetes medication without medical assessment.