Basic Concepts of Diabetes Mellitus

Abstract

Pakistan is at the seventh position on diabetes prevalence rates. Many risk factors are linked to the development of type 2 diabetes like increased body mass index (BMI), altered body lipids, increased blood pressure, smoking, less physical activity ,bad dietary habits, family history, and also some genes. Environmental factors together with a genetic tendency for diabetes set off an autoimmune response that causes damage of the pancreatic ß-cells over prolong duration leading to type 1diabetes. Failure of ß cell compensation for insulin resistance causes impaired glucose tolerance that can exhibit as type 2diabetes.Diabetes Mellitus either type 1 or type 2 can lead to various acute and chronic complications. Diagnosis can be made on levels of blood glucose concentration, urine ketone test, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), glycated serum protein and glycated serum albumin. Type 1 diabetic patients are directly given insulin. Patients with type 2 diabetes may be managed with diet and exercise. However when diet and exercise fail to control raised blood sugar level, an oral antidiabetic agent is started. This may be added with more drug(s) from the same family and or insulin depending upon the glycemic index of the patient.Type 2 diabetes is a progressive disease in which ultimately the function of ß cells decreases, and eventually exogenous insulin may be required to maintain blood sugar level. This review thoroughly describes the prevalence, classification, etiology, pathophysiology, complications, diagnostic criteria and treatment of Diabetes Mellitus