"
Diabetes"
(Gr. "passing through") is a general term for diseases marked by excessive urination. The
term, in general usage, usually refers to one type, arguably the most common form, diabetes
mellitus, (although there are other forms, such as
"
diabetes insipidus"
with substantial sufferers.)
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"
Mellitus" is a chronic
disorder of carbohydrate metabolism. It is marked by
hyperglycemia
and
glycosuria
and results from inadequate production or use of insulin. Orthodoxy divides mellitus into
two groups, based on their
"
syndromes, Type I, insulin dependent diabetes (IDDM), and Type II, non-insulin-dependent diabetes
mellitus (NIDDM). In type I, the patient secretes no insulin, such that insulin must be
administered to counter this deficiency. In the past, this form of diabetes was called
"
brittle diabetes,
juvenile-onset, or ketotic. In type II, insulin is produced, but
exogenous
insulin is still needed to control
hyperglycemia.
Former terms for this type were maturity-onset, nonketotic, and stable diabetes. Type II
occurs with far greater frequency than type I and is most common among those over 40
years of age.
Symptoms: Some of the main symptoms are elevated blood glucose (hyperglycemia), excessive urine
production, excessive thirst, glucose in the urine, an increase in appetite, and itching,
frequently in the genital area. Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus is an autoimmune disease
triggered by a nonspecific viral infection that inflames cells in the pancreas. Most common
of these infections are caused by rubella, mumps, or flu.
Etiology: Type I is an autoimmune disease
triggered by nonspecific viral infections that inflame the pancreas. The most common
infections are caused by cytomegalovirus, mumps, flu, or rubella. Although the exact
mechanisn is still unclear, the inflammatory process seems to stimulate the beta cells to
produce slightly abnormal class I histocompatibility locus antigens (HLA). Lymphocytes
recognize these antigens as invasive and set about to destroy them, releasing more beta
cell proteins that can make additional HLA and stimulating an ongoing immune response that
eventually destroys all the beta cells producing insulin. The HLA's in the pancreas are
determined genetically. Because most patients with IDDM have HLA-DR3, HLA-DR4 or both,
the tendency to develop an autoimmune response and subsequent IDDM is considered hereditary.
IDDM may occur at any age but is usually diagnosed before age 30.