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Diabetes: Difference between revisions
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==Signs and symptoms== | ==Signs and symptoms== | ||
[[Image:Main symptoms of diabetes.png|thumb|300px|Overview of the most significant symptoms of diabetes.]] | |||
The classic symptoms of untreated diabetes are loss of weight, polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger).<cite>12</cite> Symptoms may develop rapidly (weeks or months) in Type 1 diabetes, while they usually develop much more slowly and may be subtle or absent in Type 2 diabetes. | The classic symptoms of untreated diabetes are loss of weight, polyuria (frequent urination), polydipsia (increased thirst) and polyphagia (increased hunger).<cite>12</cite> Symptoms may develop rapidly (weeks or months) in Type 1 diabetes, while they usually develop much more slowly and may be subtle or absent in Type 2 diabetes. | ||
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==Pathophysiology== | ==Pathophysiology== | ||
[[Image:Suckale08 fig3 glucose insulin day.png|thumb|right|The fluctuation of blood sugar (red) and the sugar-lowering hormone insulin (blue) in humans during the course of a day with three meals - one of the effects of a | [[Image:Suckale08 fig3 glucose insulin day.png|thumb|300px|right|The fluctuation of blood sugar (red) and the sugar-lowering hormone insulin (blue) in humans during the course of a day with three meals - one of the effects of a sugar-rich vs a starch-rich meal is highlighted.]] | ||
[[Image:Glucose-insulin-release.png|thumb|right|Mechanism of insulin release in normal pancreatic beta cells - insulin production is more or less constant within the beta cells. Its release is triggered by food, chiefly food containing absorbable glucose.]] | [[Image:Glucose-insulin-release.png|thumb|right|300px|Mechanism of insulin release in normal pancreatic beta cells - insulin production is more or less constant within the beta cells. Its release is triggered by food, chiefly food containing absorbable glucose.]] | ||
Insulin is the principal hormone that regulates uptake of glucose from the blood into most cells (primarily muscle and fat cells, but not central nervous system cells). Therefore, deficiency of insulin or the insensitivity of its receptors plays a central role in all forms of diabetes mellitus. | Insulin is the principal hormone that regulates uptake of glucose from the blood into most cells (primarily muscle and fat cells, but not central nervous system cells). Therefore, deficiency of insulin or the insensitivity of its receptors plays a central role in all forms of diabetes mellitus. | ||