Diabetes Mellitus
|
| Definition |
Diabetes mellitus is a
condition in which the body's sugar is not well regulated. The sugar
increases in the blood stream. Some of the most common symptoms are
increased urination and increased thirst.
|
| Causes |
The precise cause of diabetes
mellitus is not known. Heredity and viral infections may play a key
role. Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas and is critical to
control of the body's blood sugar. An important feature of diabetes
mellitus is a relative or absolute lack of insulin.
|
| Treatment |
Diabetes mellitus is controlled by
diet, exercise, pills and sometimes by the administration of
insulin.
|
| Comments |
Some people live many years with
diabetes mellitus. Others develop complications resulting in eye
problems, kidney damage, heart damage, stroke, and blood vessel
damage.
|
| Related
Links |
American Diabetes Association
The American Diabetes Association provides consumer information
relating to diabetes mellitus and a search engine for finding other
diabetes mellitus related sites. |
ICU Medical Conditions 
