What is Diabetes?

Sugar and Diabetes

Diabetes is the one of the most common diseases worldwide. It has a long course and stays with the patient almost all through his/her life, although many diabetic patients have prolonged symptom free periods but complete cure in most cases remains elusive. One good thing about it is if kept in control, symptom free periods can be long &  patients life remains absolutely normal. To begin with diabetes, few terms need to be understood.

Diabetes - When we say Diabetes, we intend to say Diabetes Mellitus. There's another disease called Diabetes Insipidus which has a different cause and a different pathology.


Diabetes Mellitus  is disease where your body (blood and urine) sugar levels get deranged (hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia) due to lack of an hormone named Insulin. Insulin also has other functions hence diabetes can present with a variety of symptoms and signs.








Pancreas - It is the organ which secretes insulin. Pancreas also secretes other hormones which help in digestion of food.


Diabetes type I or Insulin dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM). As the name suggest "Insulin dependent", patient is completely dependent on external insulin because there is no or very little insulin produced by the body. This form of Diabetes is seen at early age, hence it is also known as Juvenile onset Diabetes Mellitus.


Diabetes type II or Non Insulin dependent Mellitus (NIDDM). In this type, usually patients have normal or even high levels of insulin but the function of insulin is deranged. However in later stages, there may be decrease in insulin levels as well. This type mostly presents at a later stage of life, hence also called as Late Onset Diabetes Mellitus.


There's another special variant which typically presents in pregnancy known as Gestational Diabetes Mellitus.




Enough for the theoretical part, we will continue with Diabetes series in later posts.
Here are some grave Facts about Diabetes Mellitus from credible sources like WHO, National Institute of health NIH (US) :-

• Estimated cases of diabetes worldwide is 346 million.
• Diabetes affects 8.3% (25.8 million) of US population.
• 90% of cases are of type II Diabetes Mellitus.
• Deaths due to Diabetes are projected to rise 50% in next 10 years.
• 50% of people with diabetes die due to Cardiovascular complications (Stroke, Heart Disease...)
• China is projected to lose $558 billion between 2006 & 2015 due to Diabetes and its related complications.
• China has become Diabetes Capital of the world with 90 million cases (took the notorious title from India in 2011 according to IDF,International Diabetes Federation)

India specific stats:-

• India has about 61.3 million cases of Diabetes.
• It affects about 9% urban population & 3% of rural population.
• Ernakulam, district of Kerala has highest prevalence of around 20% of population.