The origin of the name 'Diabetes Mellitus' provides an insight into the ancient diagnosis made by the Greeks over 2000 years ago.
Diabetes meaning "syphon" or "running through" was used to describe the increased urinary volume (polyuria) excreted by people suffering from this disease.
Mellitus meaning sweet. This differentiated from those patients suffering from Diabetes Insipidus (vasopressin defiency) who showed similar symptoms but their urine was not sweet: Insipid.
Failure to produce endogenous insulin in the diabetes sufferer leads to an inefficient usage of glucose. This increase in blood sugar level triggers the body to counteract by reducing the amount of glucose reabsorption in the renal tubules and thus excreting an excess in the urine.
The main symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes can include:
- Increased urination especially at night
- increased thirst
- extreme tiredness
- unexplained weight loss
- genital itching or regular episodes of thrush
- delayed healing of cuts and wounds
- blurred vision
These characteristic signs are extremely apparent in a proposed diabetes patient and tend to advance quickly, from here a glucose management plan can be established to maintain glucose levels within a safe range. Rapid weight loss is a hallmark sign of Type 1; all the other symptoms listed are relevant to Type 2 also. Weight loss is not normally associated with type 2 patients as they do not excrete enough glucose in the urine.
If type 1 diabetes isn't diagnosed correctly or patients fail to manage their insulin administrations properly, the patient can either:
- Develop high blood glucose levels (hyperglycaemia) > leads to increased fatigue and even long term organ damage.
- Develop low blood glucose levels (hypoglycaemia) > leads to seizures or episodes of unconsciousness.
Both of these conditions can lead to severe complications, if you wish to read more on blood sugar management please click the tab ‘blood sugar symptoms’ on the left hand side of the page.