Innovative Scientific Advancement Transforms Diabetes Treatment
INTRODUCTION
Diabetes mellitus or DM, refers to a group of diseases which are related to glucose levels in your blood.Diabetes mellitus affect the digestion and assimilation of glucose in one’s body. Diabetes is included in lifestyle diseases.
In case of diabetes mellitus, the amount of free glucose in blood increases above normal and thus leads to further complications.
GLUCOSE-Glucose is one of the main sources of energy in our body.It helps in making up of cells in our body,the energy taken from glucose breakdown is used by muscles and nervous system in our body,glucose also helps with development of brain and neurons.
TYPES OF DIABETES MELLITUS
There are mainly 3 types of diabetes mellitus, called
- Type 1 Diabetes mellitus, which was earlier called juvenile diabetes, Its a type of autoimmune disease and is detected earlier in life, hence the name. In this case, the body’s immune system destroys the insulin producing cells of pancreas, thereby meddling with the glucose metabolism and increasing blood sugar levels.
- Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus-This is the most common type of diabetes seen worldwide.It was earlier called as adult onset diabetes, as it was detected during adulthood rather than in earlier years, hence the name. It is characterized by high blood sugar, decreased insulin levels and insulin resistance.
- Gestational diabetes: This kind of diabetes is exclusively seen in pregnant women, hence the name. It usually reverses after pregnancy, but in some cases, it might lead to type 2 diabetes mellitus after pregnancy.
CAUSES OF DIABETES MELLITUS
The causes of diabetes mellitus can vary from genetic to lifestyle.Diabetes can be short- or long-onset, depending on the type.Here are some of the causes of diabetes mellitus:.
- Hereditary factors
- Sedentary lifestyle
- Autoimmune diseases
- Pregnancy in case of gestational diabetes
- Obesity
- Insulin reduction
- Hormonal imbalance
- Insulin resistance
- Genetics
- Dietary factors
- Unhealthy lifestyle
- Secondary causes such as pancreatitis,cystic fibrosis
- Surgery, which includes partial or complete removal of pancreas,.
- DNA mutations
- Micro and macro nutrient assimilation issues
SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS OF DIABETES MELLITUS
All three types of diabetes mellitus have their own exclusive symptoms but here are few common symptoms seen in case of diabetes mellitus condition.
- Increased glucose levels
- Increased thirst
- General weakness of body
- Weight Loss
- Increased urination
- Blurred vision
- Fatigue
- Skin issue
- Delayed wound healing
- Body weight issues
- Confusion
- Cognitive issues
DIAGNOSIS OF DIABETES MELLITUS
Diabetes mellitus needs clinical as well as laboratory diagnosis.It is always better to go for periodic screening tests to identify the issue in early stages.
- Clinical diagnosis: The physician will ask for personal, family history and coordinate with your current signs and symptoms to clinically diagnose diabetes mellitus.
- Other than clinical diagnosis, the lab tests also confirm diagnosis of diabetes mellitus
- Fasting glucose levels
- HBA1c tests
- Plasma glucose levels
TREATMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF DIABETES MELLITUS
- Treatment of diabetes mellitus includes management of high blood sugar levels.
- Care must be taken not to go to hypoglycemia,low blood sugar levels
- Creating a better lifestyle
- Avoid smoking and alcohol
- In case of decreased insulin levels, external insulin is given
- Symptomatic management of secondary complications arising from diabetes mellitus.
- Weight loss
- Obesity management
- Surgical methods
IS DIABETES AUTOIMMUNE?
Although diabetes mellitus is more of a metabolic disease, recent researches shows that there is autoimmune trait to the diseases
AUTOIMMUNE DISEASE: An autoimmune disease is one in which the body misunderstands its own cells as a threat and triggers an immune response against it, thus destroying the same cells.
In this case of diabetes, the body targets the pancreatic cells which produce insulin and attacks them, thus causing low insulin and diabetes.
This is a very serious form of diabetes. There is no permanent cure for this and autolysis of pancreatic cells can lead to more major complications.
The researches on this topic is still limited and diabetes is mostly treated as a lifestyle disease more.
Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA)
Latent autoimmune diabetes in adults is a type of diabetes seen in older adults. This is characterized by a less severe destructive immune response,the insulin dependence progress is slower in the case of LADA
complications of autoimmune diabetes
- Increased insulin dependence
- Long-term, low inflammation
- Changes in t cell activities
- Long term fatigue
- Increased risk of secondary diabetes mellitus complications
- Increased risk of secondary pancreatitis complications
Treatment of autoimmune diabetes
Although the research is still in process, there are still some probable treatment methods given
Immunosuppressant treatment: This can be given to reduce the autoimmune activity of the body.It helps to check the attack on pancreatic cells and aid in production of insulin.
The complication in immunosuppressant therapy is that the patient has to be careful about contacting any other infections as the immune system is not much in work.
SUMMARY
Diabetes mellitus or DM, refers to a group of diseases which are related to glucose levels in your blood.Diabetes mellitus affect the digestion and assimilation of glucose in one’s body. Diabetes is included in lifestyle diseases.Although diabetes mellitus is more of a metabolic disease, recent researches shows that there is autoimmune trait to the diseases.This is a very serious form of diabetes; there is no permanent cure for it, and autolysis of pancreatic cells can lead to more major complications.
