Diabetes Mellitus is the formal name for diabetes. Diabetes, simply put is a disease in which there is not proper control of blood sugar in the body. It occurs due to a lack of insulin or because insulin is not being used effectively. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas that enables blood sugar to be turned into energy. If blood sugar is not managed and builds in the blood stream to the point of diabetes, serious medical complications can follow.


Diabetes Mellitus refers to both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is often diagnosed in children and was one referred to as Juvenile Diabetes. Type 1 diabetics are thought to be born with a genetic predisposition for developing diabetes. In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas produces insufficient amounts of insulin or no insulin at all. Type 1 diabetics rely on prescribed insulin to maintain the proper blood glucose level. For this reason, Type 1 diabetes was also once called Insulin Dependent Diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is often avoidable with proper diet and exercise. Type 2 diabetics produce insulin but their bodies do not use it correctly, therefore, sugar builds in the bloodstream.

Diabetes Mellitus is manageable with proper self-care and medical treatment. Providing a diabetic does well in managing their diabetes, they can avoid serious complications that can arise when diabetes goes untreated.

Filed under: Living with Diabetes

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