Diagnosis
| LINKS |
| MODY |
| TYPE 2 in Children |
| GENETICS |
| METABOLIC SYNDROME |
| GESTATIONAL |
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes Mellitus is a common disorder that affects 2-3 people in evey 100 of the population. There are two types of Diabetes:
Normally a chemical or hormone called Insulin controls the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Glucose comes in fast and slow acting forms from the food we eat.
Insulin is produced in the pancreas, a gland that lies behind the stomach. Insulin allows glucose to move into muscles and the liver where it can be used to provide energy.
Normally the body can produce enough insulin to keep the amount of glucose in the blood under control. Diabetes develops when there is a lack of (or no) insulin (Type 1) or when the body does not respond properly to the insulin that is produced (Type 2). This causes blood glucose levels to become too high. Once the amount of glucose in the blood reaches a certain level, it spills over into the urine.
You can work out your risk of developing diabetes over the next 10 years by completing a simple questionnaire on this link
Symptoms of Diabetes:
- Thirst
- Urine frequency, especially at night
- Tiredness
- Weight loss
- Irritability/Mood change
- Blurred vision
- Recurrent infections and thrush
- Tingling/numbness feet, legs or hands
Patients with Type 2 diabetes may have NO symptoms and the diagnosis should be actively sought with a fasting blood test in any patient with:
- Family history diabetes
- Obesity
- Gestational diabetes/large birth weight babies
- Hypertension or CV disease
- PCOD
- People of Asian, African and Afro-Caribbean origin
Patients with Type 1 diabetes usually
- Present with acute thirst and weight loss
- Have ketones in the urine
- Have islet cell antibodies
- Are children or young adults but can be older
- Some patients present with Type 2 diabetes but soon require insulin, they have positive antibody tests and are termed LADA (latent autoimmune diabetes of adults)