diabetes
Sign in to saveDiabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes tends to progress in severity, and is due to either a reduced production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas or unresponsiveness of bodily cells to insulin's effects. Classic symptoms include the three Ps: polydipsia (excessive thirst), polyuria (excessive urination), and polyphagia (excessive hunger), together with weight loss and blurred vision. If left untreated, the disease can lead to many health complications, including disorders of the ca
AI overview
Diabetes is a disease where the body has persistently high blood sugar levels, either because the pancreas doesn't produce enough of the hormone insulin or the body's cells don't respond properly to it. If left untreated, diabetes can cause serious health complications, making it important to manage the condition and watch for symptoms like excessive thirst, urination, and hunger.
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Key facts
- Medical condition.image
- Blue circle for diabetes.svg
- Medical condition.image_size
- 250px
- Medical condition.alt
- A hollow circle with a thick blue border and a clear centre
- Medical condition.caption
- Universal blue circle symbol for diabetes
- Medical condition.field
- Endocrinology
- Medical condition.symptoms
- Frequent urination, Increased thirst, Increased hunger
- Medical condition.complications
- Metabolic imbalances, cardiovascular diseases, myocardial infarction, nerve and brain damage, kidney failure, gastrointestinal changes
- Medical condition.duration
- Remission may occur, but diabetes is often lifelong
- Medical condition.causes
- Insulin insufficiency or gradual resistance
- Medical condition.diagnosis
- High blood sugar, increased HbA1c
- Medical condition.differential
Article
36 sectionsContents
- Signs and symptoms
- Long-term complications
- Types
- Type 1
- Type 2
- Gestational diabetes
- Maturity-onset diabetes of the young
- Type 5 (malnutrition-related)
- Other types
- Unofficial
- Pathophysiology
- Diagnosis
- Prevention
- Comorbidity
- Management
- Lifestyle
- In children
- Treatment and management
- Education
- Medications
- Glucose control
- Blood pressure lowering
- Aspirin
- Surgery
- Self-management and support
- Epidemiology
- History
- Etymology
- Society and culture
- Diabetes stigma
- Inequalities in Diabetes
- Naming
- Diabetes in other animals
- See also
- References
- External links
Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes tends to progress in severity, and is due to either a reduced production of the hormone insulin by the pancreas or unresponsiveness of bodily cells to insulin's effects. Classic symptoms include the three Ps: polydipsia (excessive thirst), polyuria (excessive urination), and polyphagia (excessive hunger), together with weight loss and blurred vision. If left untreated, the disease can lead to many health complications, including disorders of the cardiovascular system, eye, kidney, and nerves.
The major types of diabetes are type 1 and type 2. The most common type is type 2. The most common treatment for type 1 is insulin replacement therapy (insulin injections), while anti-diabetic medications (such as metformin and semaglutide or tirzepatide) and lifestyle modifications can be used to manage type 2. Gestational diabetes, a form that sometimes arises during pregnancy, normally resolves shortly after delivery. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the body's immune system attacks the beta cells (β-cell) in the pancreas, preventing the production of insulin. This condition typically is present from birth or develops early in life. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to insulin, meaning the cells do not respond effectively to it, and thus, glucose remains in the bloodstream instead of being absorbed by the cells. Additionally, diabetes can result from other specific causes, such as genetic conditions (monogenic diabetes syndromes like neonatal diabetes and maturity-onset diabetes of the young), diseases affecting the pancreas (such as pancreatitis), or the use of certain medications and chemicals (such as glucocorticoids or other specific drugs, including those used after organ transplantation).