Symptoms of Diabetes Mellitus

❚❚ Frequent urination (polyuria)

❚❚ Dehydration, dry mouth

❚❚ Excessive thirst (polydipsia)

❚❚Weight loss

❚❚ Excessive hunger (polyphagia)

❚❚ Blurred vision

❚❚ Increased infections

❚❚ Fatigue

KEY WORDS
Diabetes -a group of metabolic disorders characterized by hyperglycemia and disordered insulin metabolism.
❚ diabetes 5 siphon (in Greek), referring to the excessive passage of urine that is characteristic of untreated diabetes
❚ mellitus 5 sweet, honeylike insulin: a pancreatic hormone that regulates glucose metabolism; its actions are countered mainly by the hormone
glucagon.
renal threshold: the blood concentration of a substance that exceeds the kidneys’ capacity for reabsorption, causing the substance
to be passed into the urine.
hyperosmolar: having an abnormally high osmolarity; osmolarity refers to the concentration of osmotically
active particles in solution. Hyperglycemia may cause some body fluids to become hyperosmolar.
oral glucose tolerance test: a test that evaluates a person’s ability to tolerate an oral glucose load.
glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c): hemoglobin that has nonenzymatically attached to glucose; the level of HbA1c in the blood helps to
diagnose diabetes and evaluate long-term glycemic control. Also called glycosylated hemoglobin.
acetone breath: a distinctive fruity odor on the breath of a person with ketosis.

Albuminuria: the presence of albumin (a blood protein) in the urine, a sign of diabetic nephropathy.

Claudication (CLAW -dih-KAY -shun): pain in the legs while walking; usually due to an inadequate supply
of blood to muscles.

Diabetic coma: a coma that occurs in uncontrolled diabetes; may be due to diabetic ketoacidosis, the
hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome, or severe hypoglycemia. Diabetic coma was a frequent cause of
death before insulin was routinely used to manage diabetes.

Diabetic nephropathy (neh-FRAH-pah-thee): damage to the kidneys that results from long-term
diabetes.

Diabetic neuropathy (nur-RAH-pah-thee): nerve damage that results from long-term diabetes.

Diabetic retinopathy (REH-tih-NAH-pah-thee): retinal damage that results from long-term diabetes.

Gangrene: death of tissue due to a deficient blood supply and/or infection.

Gastroparesis (GAS-tro-pah-REE-sis): delayed stomach emptying caused by nerve damage in stomach

tissue.

Glycosuria (GLY -co-SOOR-ee-ah): the presence of glucose in the urine.

hyperglycemia: elevated blood glucose concentrations.

Normal fasting plasma glucose levels are less than 100 mg/dL.

Fasting plasma glucose levels between 100 and 125 mg/dL suggest prediabetes; values of 126 mg/dL
and above suggest diabetes.

hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome: a condition of extreme hyperglycemia associated with

dehydration, hyperosmolar blood, and altered mental status; sometimes called the hyperosmolar
hyperglycemic nonketotic state.

hypoglycemia: abnormally low blood glucose concentrations. In diabetes, hypoglycemia is treated when
plasma glucose falls below 70 mg/dL.

ketoacidosis (KEY-to-ass-ih-DOE-sis): an acidosis (lowering of blood pH) that results from the excessive
production of ketone bodies.

ketonuria (KEY-to-NOOR-ee-ah): the presence of ketone bodies in the urine.

ketosis (key-TOE-sis): elevated levels of ketone bodies in the body.

macrovascular complications: disorders that affect large blood vessels, including the coronary arteries
and arteries of the limbs.

microvascular complications: disorders that affect small bloodvessels, including those in the retina and
kidneys.

peripheral vascular disease: a condition characterized by impaired blood circulation in the limbs.

polydipsia (POL-ee-DIP-see-ah): excessive thirst.

polyphagia (POL-ee-FAY -jee-ah): excessive appetite or hunger.

polyuria (POL-ee-YOOR-ee-ah): excessive urine production.

prediabetes: the state of having plasma glucose levels that are higher than normal but not high enough
to be diagnosed as diabetes (100–125 mg/dL when fasting or 140–199 mg/dL when measured two hours
after ingesting 75 grams of glucose); occurs in individuals who have metabolic defects that often lead to
type 2 diabetes. type 1 diabetes: diabetes that is characterized by absolute insulin deficiency, usually
resulting from the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells.

autoimmune: refers to an immune response directed against the body’s own tissues.

Strategies for diabetes prevention may include:

❚❚ Loose weight if overweight or obese, or prevent additional weight gain

❚❚ Perform at least 150 minutes of moderate physical activity weekly

❚❚ Increase intake of whole grains and dietary fiber; limit intake of sugar-sweetened

foods and beverages

❚❚ Monitor health status with yearly check-ups

In Summary

❚❚ Diabetes mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by inadequate insulin secretion and/or impaired
insulin action; diagnosis is based on indicators of hyperglycemia.

❚❚ In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas secretes little or no insulin, and insulin therapy is necessary for
survival. Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance coupled with relative insulin deficiency.

❚❚ Acute complications of poorly controlled diabetes include diabetic ketoacidosis, in which

hyperglycemia is accompanied by ketosis and acidosis; the hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome,
characterized by severe hyperglycemia, dehydration, and mental impairments; and hypoglycemia, which
most often results from inappropriate disease management.

❚❚ Chronic complications of diabetes include macrovascular disorders such as cardiovascular disease and
peripheral vascular disease, microvascular conditions such as retinopathy and nephropathy, and
neuropathy.