Health is wealth - we should first take care of our health by ourselves. We should ensure that our blood sugar is always at normal range.
Diabets mellitus, often simply diabetes is a syndrome characterized by disordered metabolism and inappropriately high blood sugar resulting from either low levels of the hormone insulin or from abnormal resistance to insulin's effects coupled with inadequate levels of insulin secretion to compensate. The characteristic symptoms are excessive urine production, excessive thirst and increased fluid intake and blurred vision, these symptoms may be absent if the blood sugar is mildly elevated.
The diabetes can cause many complications. Acute complications may occur if the disease is not adequately controlled. Serious long term complications include cardiovascular disease, chronic renal failure, retinal damage, nerve damage and microvascular damage, which may cause impotence and poor healing. Poor healing of wounds, particularly of the feet, can lead to gangrene, which may require amputation. Adequate treatment of diabetes as well as increased emphasis on blood pressure control and lifestyle factors may improve the risk profile of most above said complications. In the developed world, diabetes is the most significant cause of adult blindness in the non-elderly, the leading cause of non-traumatic amputation in adults and diabetic nephropathy is the main illness requiring renal dialysis.
The World Health Organization recognizes three main forms of diabetes mellitus: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes, which have similar signs, symptoms and consequences, but different causes and population distributions. Ultimately, all forms are due to the beta cells of the pancreas being unable to produce sufficient insulin to prevent hyperglycemia. Type 1 diabetes is usually due to autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells, which produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance in target issues, but some impairment of beta cell function is necessary for development. Gestational diabetes is similar to type 2 diabetes, in that it involves insulin resistance; the hormones of pregnancy can cause insulin resistance in women genetically predisposed to developing this condition.
Gestational diabetes typically resolves with delivery of the child, however types 1 and 2 diabetes are chronic conditions. All types have been treatable since insulin became medically available since many decades.