Do I Have Diabetes - Diabetic Mellitus Symptoms

Diabetes mellitus, is derived from the Greek term diabainein, which means "to pass through" and “mellitus” a Latin word that literally means "sweetened with honey".

Diabetes mellitus is a disease described as either the inability of the body to produce or respond to insulin making it impossible for a person to maintain the proper levels of glucose in the blood. This results into a person having higher levels of glucose in the urine which results into more water from the body being flushed through. Common symptoms of diabetes patients include excessive urination and thirst.

There are two types of Diabetes, Type 1 is insulin-dependent and Type 2 is non-insulin dependent.

Type 1 (formerly known juvenile-onset diabetes, because it is diagnosed in young adults or children) diabetes is a genetic disease. When a person has type 1 diabetes, this means that their bodies produce antibodies that destroy insulin producing cells. Type 1 patients require insulin injections daily because of the disease. Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong disease which doctors have yet to find a cure for.

Type 2 (formerly known as adult-onset diabetes, as it exhibits its symptoms to adults over 40) is the most common form of diabetes. In fact 90% of all diabetes patients suffer from type 2 diabetes. Although genes play some part in causing Type 2 diabetes, obesity and improper diet and lifestyles are the major causes of the disease. Most people who suffer from this disease have diets that are both high in fat and low in carbs. They also have low or no exercise regimen.

There is a third type of diabetes, it is a derivative of Type 2 diabetes as it only affects a specific group of adults. Gestational Diabetes is diagnosed in women who have high blood-sugar levels during pregnancy. A pregnant woman's sugar levels should be monitored carefully as they can largely affect the baby. Women who are diagnosed with gestational diabetes at a later stage are likely to develop Type 2 diabetes. Some symptoms include frequent urination, excessive hunger and thirst, unusual weight loss, increased fatigue, irritability and blurry vision.

If you or your loved one is experiencing any of these symptoms, consult your physician immediately.