What is diabetes mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus refers to a group of conditions characterised by high levels of sugar in your bloodstream. The term diabetes mellitus is often shortened to diabetes.

Depending on the type of diabetes you have, it is either caused by a problem with the production of insulin and/or a problem with the utilisation of this insulin in your body. 

The three main types of diabetes are:

• Type 1 diabetes (previously known as juvenile diabetes)
• Type 2 diabetes (previously known as adult onset diabetes)
• Gestational diabetes

Symptoms of diabetes may include excessive thirst, urination or hunger. However nowadays, plenty of people with diabetes are being diagnosed before developing these symptoms. This is done with blood tests. This allows medical professionals to identify people with diabetes at an early stage and thus avoiding the symptoms and some of the complications of the disease. Complications of long term diabetes can be severe, life threatening and disabling. Thus early diagnosis and management is important in improving the long term outcomes of this disease.

The following videos may assist in your understanding of diabetes.