Friday, July 22, 2016
Diabetes Mellitus:
Diabetes mellitus is not one disease, but rather is a heterogeneous group of multifactorial, polygenic syndromes characterized by an elevation of fasting blood glucose caused by a relative or absolute deficiency in insulin. Diabetes is the leading cause of adult blindness and amputation, and a major cause of renal failure, nerve damage, heart attacks, and strokes. Diabetes mellitus can be separated into two groups type 1 (formerly called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus) and type 2 (formerly called noninsulin-dependent diabetes)
A. Epidemiology
1. Affects 5% to 7% of population in the United States
• Increased in Native Americans (35% of Pima Indians)
2. Leading cause in the United States for:
a. Legal blindness
b. Peripheral neuropathy
c. Chronic renal failure (CRF)
d. Below-the-knee amputation
3. Incidence increases with age.
Comparison Between Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
