Pathophysiology of Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes patients are at risk of high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). The exact cause of diabetes is often unclear, as many factors can contribute to the disease. High blood sugar alone can damage the pancreas, which makes it harder for the body to produce insulin. This creates a vicious cycle, where high blood sugar leads to insulin problems, which then leads to higher blood sugar.
Blood sugar levels above 180 mg/dL are often considered high in people with diabetes. However, there is no clear cutoff point, as the mechanisms of diabetes can vary.
When blood sugar levels are high, the kidneys can’t keep up with filtering all the glucose. This leads to osmotic diuresis, which is a condition where the body produces large amounts of urine. Symptoms of osmotic diuresis include thirst (polydipsia) and frequent urination (polyuria).
Insulin resistance is another factor that contributes to high blood sugar. This happens when the body’s cells don’t respond properly to insulin. Insulin resistance can be caused by excess fatty acids and proinflammatory cytokines.
In response to insulin resistance, the body produces more glucagon, a hormone that raises blood sugar levels. This further contributes to hyperglycemia.
Insulin resistance is a component of type 2 diabetes, but it’s not enough to cause the disease on its own. Type 2 diabetes develops when the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin to compensate for insulin resistance.
Chronic high blood sugar can also cause damage to proteins and lipids. This damage is called glycation. The extent of glycation can be measured by the HbA1c test. Glycation can damage small blood vessels in the retina, kidney, and peripheral nerves. This can lead to diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy, which are the classic complications of diabetes.
In even simpler terms:
Diabetes is a disease that makes it hard for the body to control blood sugar levels. This can lead to high blood sugar, which can damage the body over time.
There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that causes the body to attack its own insulin-producing cells. Type 2 diabetes is caused by a combination of factors, including insulin resistance and genetics.
Both types of diabetes can lead to high blood sugar, which can cause a variety of health problems, including blindness, kidney failure, and heart disease.
There are treatments available for both types of diabetes, but it’s important to manage blood sugar levels carefully to prevent complications.
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