Diabetes Prevention Fundamental

  Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin, or the cells of the body becoming unresponsive to insulin's effects. The common symptoms of diabetes include increase thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, and unintended weight loss. Several other non-specific signs and symptoms may also occur, including fatigue, blurred vision, sweet smelling urine/ semen and genital itchiness due to candida infection. About half of affected individuals may also be asymptomatic. Type 1 diabetes presents abrruptly following a pre-clinical phase, while type 2 diabetes has a more insidious onset: patients may remain asymptomatic for many years. Hypoglycemia is a recognized complication of insulin treatment used in diabetes. An acute presentation can include mild symptoms such as sweating, trembling, and palpitations, to more serious effects including impaired cognition, confusion, seizures, coma, and rarely death.

  The major long-term complications of diabetes relate to damage to blood vessels at both macrovascular and microvascular levels. Diabetes doubles the risk of cardiovascular disease, and about 75% of death in people with diabetes are due to coronary artery disease. Other macrovascular morbidities include stroke and peripheral artery disease.