Diabetes - Diagnosis, Types, Symptoms and Causes

Diabetes is a disease known to the medical world since time immemorial.



The incidence of diabetes is much higher at present than ever in the past. The word diabetes is derived from the Greek word “diabetes insipidus” meaning " to pass through," and “diabetes mellitus” comes from the Latin word "honey". Both the terms share the name "diabetes" because they are both conditions characterized by excessive urination also known as polyuria.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or properly use insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to absorb sugar from the bloodstream and converts sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life. The causes of diabetes include genetics, social and environmental factors such as improper food intake, obesity and lack of exercise.

Recent statistics from the American diabetes association indicate there are 20.8 million children and adults in the United States, or 7% of the population, who have diabetes.



While an estimated 14.6 million have been diagnosed with diabetes, unfortunately, 6.2 million people (or nearly one-third) are unaware that they have the disease.

Diagnosing Diabetes:

The only method to diagnose the existence of the disease is the most commonly used screening tests .The screening tests aid determination of the fasting blood glucose level and the two-hour post-prandial (that is after a meal). The normal fasting blood sugar content is 80 to120 mg. per 100 ml of blood and this can go up to a level of 180 mg. per 100 ml. of blood two hours after meals.



If the level of blood sugar is anything above these norms it is termed as a diabetic level.

Types of Diabetes:

On being diagnosed as having diabetes, it is important to know the type of diabetes that is affecting our system. There are mainly three types of diabetes:

• Type 1 often affects children, but adults can develop it, too. In this form of diabetes, the body is unable to make insulin. The immune system, by mistake, attacks the cells that make and release insulin. As these cells die, high sugar levels collect in the blood. Lack of insulin with high blood sugar may cause acids called ketones to build up in the blood and urine. This can cause a life-threatening problem.
• Type 2 accounts for most diabetes cases. In type 2 diabetes, your body probably still makes insulin, but your body’s cells can’t use it well. This is called insulin resistance. Over time, high levels of sugar build up in the bloodstream. When blood sugars are high, yet still not high enough for diabetes, you have pre-diabetes. As sugar continues to build, you may develop type 2 diabetes.
• Gestational diabetes occurs in some pregnant women. It can cause problems during pregnancy, labor, and delivery. This type of diabetes is diagnosed in the last months of pregnancy. Women who get gestational diabetes are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes.

Diabetes occurs in all age groups, from young infants to the elderly.



The greatest incidence occurs in middle or older aged persons. It is estimated that 80 to 85 per cent of all individuals with diabetes are 45 years of age or older.

Symptoms of Diabetes

The following symptoms indicate warning signs that diabetes is affecting your system. Pay heed to these signals and resort to:

• Abnormal Urination: The normal volume of urine passed daily is about three pints, but in the diabetic condition it can vary from eight to forty pints. The urine is of a pale colour, has an acidic reaction and sweetish odour. The quantity of sugar present in it varies from two to forty grams per ounce.
• Hunger and Tiredness: A diabetic feels hungry and thirsty most of the time and gets tired easily, both physically and mentally.
• Unusual Weight-loss: A diabetic does not put on weight, though he eats every now and then.
• Change in overall appearance: He looks pale, may suffer from anaemia, constipation, intense itching around the genital organs, palpitations and general weakness. He feels drowsy and has a lower sex urge than a normal person.

Causes of Diabetes:

The following are the main causes known to lead to a diabetic condition:

• Lack of healthy diet, exercise, and normal weight leads to inability of the body to use insulin.
• Being overweight and inactive can make it harder for you to use insulin.
• Diabetes has been described by most biological. Doctors describe diabetes as a "prosperity" disease, primarily caused by systematic overeating and consequent obesity.
• Excessive intake of sugar and refined carbohydrates are harmful as in case of proteins and fats, which are transformed into sugar if taken in excess and may result in diabetes.
• Excessive food puts pressure on the pancreas and eventually paralyses its normal activity. It has been estimated that the incidence of diabetes is four times higher in persons of moderate obesity and 30 times higher in persons of severe obesity.
• Grief, worry and anxiety also have a deep influence on the metabolism and may cause sugar to appear in the urine.
• The disease may be associated with some other grave organic disorders like cancer, tuberculosis and cerebral disease.
• Heredity is also a major factor in the development of the disease.