DIABETES MELLITUS UNIT

Diabetics Mellitus Unit

What is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that occurs when your body is unable to properly regulate blood sugar (glucose) levels. Glucose is a primary source of energy for your body, and insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, helps control its levels.

There are three main types of diabetes:

• Type 1 Diabetes: The body’s immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This type is usually diagnosed in children and young adults.

• Type 2 Diabetes: The most common form, where the body either resists the effects of insulin or doesn’t produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels. It is often linked to lifestyle factors such as poor diet and lack of physical activity.

• Gestational Diabetes: A temporary condition that occurs during pregnancy, where high blood sugar develops, but it usually resolves after childbirth.

If left unmanaged, diabetes can lead to serious complications, such as heart disease, kidney failure, nerve damage, and vision problems. However, with proper management—including healthy eating, regular exercise, and medication—people with diabetes can live healthy, fulfilling lives.

Diabetes Treatments and Care: Include detailed pages on the treatments and services your hospital offers. This can include:

• Insulin therapy and other medications
• Lifestyle counselling (nutrition, exercise, mental health)
• Diabetes education programs
• Advanced technologies like Continuous Glucose Monitoring (CGM) and insulin pumps

• Prevention and Risk Reduction: Provide resources on how individuals can reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes through lifestyle changes, weight management, and early intervention.
• Patient Resources: Include downloadable resources like diet plans, exercise tips, and blood sugar tracking charts. These resources can help patients take charge of their health between visits.

Symptoms

• Feeling excessive thirst and hunger.
• Urinating often.
• Losing weight without trying.
• Presence of ketones in the urine. Ketones are a by-product of the breakdown of muscle and fat that happens when there’s not enough available insulin.
• Feeling tired and weak.
• Feeling irritable or having other mood changes.
• Having blurry vision.
• Having slow-healing sores.
• Getting a lot of infections, such as gum, skin and vaginal infections.