Diabetes

• Definition
· Type II Diabetes is the disease of elevated blood glucose levels due to insulin resistance- the failure of naturally occurring insulin to control blood glucose levels.
· Type II Diabetes is diagnosed by:
· An overnight fasting blood glucose greater than or equal to 126 mg/dL.
· A blood glucose level greater than 200 mg/dL about two hours after glucose load.

• Overview
· Type II Diabetes affects 17.2 million Americans.
· Type II Diabetes is now the sixth leading cause of death in the United States.
· Type II Diabetes has rapidly increased in frequency due to increases in processed foods along with decreased physical activity and obesity.
· Type II Diabetes is one of the major causes of blindness, cardiovascular disease, lower extremity amputations and renal failure.
· Type II Diabetes is associated with:
· age at diagnosis greater than 40 years of age
· obesity
· hypertension (high blood pressure)
· high cholesterol
· atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries)
· frequent or excessive urination

• Symptoms
· Type II Diabetes symptoms include:
· Excessive thirst
· Frequent and excessive urination (due to the diuretic effect of excessive blood glucose levels)
· fatigue
· blurry vision
· peripheral neuropathy
· vaginal fungal infections

• Complications
· Type II Diabetes complications include:
· hypoglycemia (low blood glucose levels due to treatment)
· diabetic retinal disease
· Diabetic kidney disease
· Diabetic neuropathy (impaired function of neurons due to high blood glucose levels)
· infections (diabetes impairs the immune system)
· foot ulcers and gangrene of the feet

• Treatment
· Type II Diabetes treatment includes:
· weight loss
· restriction of excessive dietary carbohydrates
· exercise
· Glucophage (medication that increases insulin sensitivity)
· medications that increase pancreatic insulin production
· Insulin

References
Mooradian AD et al. Narrative review: a rational approach to starting insulin therapy. Ann Intern Med. 2006 Jul 18;145(2):125-34. [PMID: 16847295]
American Diabetes Association. Clinical practice recommendations. Diabetes Care. 2006;29(Suppl 1):S1.
Narayan KM et al: Diabetes-a common, serious, costly, and potentially preventable public health problem. Diabetes Res Clin Pract 2000; 50:77. [PMID: 11024588]

Posted on September 24, 2008

2 Responses to “Diabetes”

  1. Health and Wellness: Medicues High blood sugar says:
    April 18, 2009 at 11:59 pm

    [...] by Cristopher Geiler, M.D. • High blood sugar (hyperglycemia) is usually a sign of diabetes. [...]

    Reply
  2. Health and Wellness: Medicues Hyperglycemia says:
    April 19, 2009 at 12:01 am

    [...] • Hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) is usually a sign of diabetes. [...]

    Reply

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