Important Understanding Of Diabetes Mellitus

by Bambang Adi Prijono

Diabetes mellitus is a disease in which blood glucose (simple sugar) in the blood is high because the body can not release or use insulin adequately.

Insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas, which is responsible for maintaining normal blood sugar levels. Well, how much blood sugar is called high? Blood sugar levels are normal in the morning after the night before fasting is 70-110 mg / dL of blood. Blood sugar levels are usually less than 120-140 mg / dL at 2 hours after eating or drinking liquids that contain sugars and other carbohydrates.

Increased blood sugar levels after eating or drinking stimulates the pancreas to produce insulin which prevents blood sugar levels rise further and cause blood sugar levels slowly decreased.
Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels or when cells do not respond appropriately to insulin.

Diabetes Mellitus type 1 (insulin-dependent diabetes)
Diabettes Mellitus Type 2 (diabetes that is not dependent on insulin, NIDDM)
In patients with type 1 diabetes, there was a condition called diabetic ketoacidosis. Fat cells are broken down and produces ketones, which are toxic chemical compounds that can cause the blood to become acidic (ketoacidosis).

Breathing becomes deep and rapid as the body attempts to correct the acidity of the blood.
Patients with type 2 diabetes may not show symptoms for several years.

A. Diagnosing Diabetes Mellitus

Diagnosis is confirmed by the symptoms of diabetes that is 3P (polidipsi, polifagi, polyuria) and the results of blood tests that showed high levels of blood sugar (not normal). To measure blood sugar levels, blood samples are usually taken after the patient fasted for 8 hours or can be taken after meals.

Other blood tests that can be done is the glucose tolerance test. It is for detecting diabetes that often occurs in pregnant women.
Patients fasted and blood samples taken to measure fasting blood sugar levels. Before developing into type 2 diabetes, is usually always have pre-diabetes, which has symptoms of blood sugar levels higher than normal but not high enough to diagnose diabetes. However, in some people who have pre-diabetes, it is likely to be diabetes can be delayed or prevented by lifestyle changes.
Diabetes and pre-diabetes can occur in people with diverse ages and races, but there are certain groups who are at higher risk.

B. Diabetes Complications Can be Deadly

Diabetes is a disease that had complications (other disease causing) the most. This is related to high blood sugar levels constant, thus resulting in damage to blood vessels, nerves and other internal structures.
Complex substances made up of sugar in the blood vessel wall causes blood vessels to thicken and leak. As a result of this thickening of the blood flow will be reduced, especially those leading to the skin and nerves.

Blood sugar levels are also likely to lead to uncontrolled levels of fatty substances in the blood increases, thereby accelerating atherosclerosis (fatty plaque buildup in blood vessels). Atherosclerosis is 2-6 times more common in diabetics.
Complications are more common and deadly is a heart attack and stroke.

C. Therapy for Diabetes Mellitus

The main goal of diabetes treatment is to maintain blood sugar levels within the normal range. However, blood sugar levels are normal really difficult to maintain.
Someone who suffer from obesity and type 2 diabetes will not require treatment if they lose weight and exercise regularly.

Type 1 diabetes can only be treated with insulin but type 2 can be treated with insulin replacement oral.Terapi drug, this drug lowers blood sugar by stimulating the release of insulin by the pancreas and increase its effectiveness.
Per-oral hypoglycemic drugs are usually given to people with type II diabetes if diet and exercise fail to lower blood sugar levels adequately.

If the per-oral hypoglycemic medications can not control blood sugar levels properly, may need insulin injections. 

Insulin replacement therapy

Tighter control can be obtained by combining two types of insulin, the rapid-acting insulin and the insulin is working. Some people experience resistensiantibodi to insulin replacement. But the best way to lower cholesterol levels is to control blood sugar levels and body weight. to insulin. Insulin is not entirely the same as the insulin produced by the body, so the body can be formed

Monitoring blood sugar levels is an important part of diabetes treatment. Currently blood sugar levels can be measured easily by the patients themselves at home using a blood glucose meter. People with diabetes should record their blood sugar levels and report them to the doctor for medication or insulin dose can be adjusted Hypoglycemia.

Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar) can also occur when people eat less or not eating on time or doing too much exercise without eating.
Patients with type I diabetes should always carry glucagon, which can be injected if they can not eat foods that contain sugar.
Without proper treatment, and quickly, coma and even death can occur. Insulin given intravenously so that it can work immediately and the dosage adjusted. Glucose, ketones and blood electrolytes were measured every few hours, so that treatment can be adjusted.
Type 2 diabetes often occurs in people who are obese. Excess fat will cause resistance to insulin.