Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders that results in high blood sugar levels over an extended period of time. There are three main types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 occurs when the pancreas produces little to no insulin, type 2 occurs when the body does not properly use or produce enough insulin, and gestational diabetes develops during pregnancy. Long-term complications of diabetes include cardiovascular disease, nerve damage, kidney damage, eye damage, foot damage, and skin and brain conditions if not properly treated. Treatment focuses on managing blood sugar levels through diet, exercise, medication and regular screening tests to prevent or delay complications.

1. LAHORE COLLEGE FOR WOMEN
UNIVERSITY
BS 3-5TH
SEMESTER
DIETETICS

2. DIABETES MELLITUS
Diabetes mellitus (DM), commonly referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic disorders in
which there are high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period. It is a disease that prevents your
body from properly using the energy from the food you eat. Diabetes usually occurs when:
“The pancreas (an organ behind your stomach) produces little insulin or no insulin at all. (Insulin
is a naturally occurring hormone, produced by the beta cells of the pancreas, which helps the
body use sugar for energy.)”
 TYPES OF DIABETES
There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2:
 TYPE 1 DIABETES:
Type 1 diabetes, once known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic
condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Insulin is a hormone needed to
allow sugar (glucose) to enter cells to produce energy.
Different factors, including genetics and some viruses, may contribute to type 1 diabetes.
Although type 1 diabetes usually appears during childhood or adolescence, it can develop in
adults.
 TYPE 2 DIABETES:
Type 2 diabetes, once known as adult-onset or noninsulin-dependent diabetes, is a chronic
condition that affects the way our body metabolizes sugar (glucose)
With type 2 diabetes, body either resists the effects of insulin — a hormone that regulates the
movement of sugar into body cells — or doesn't produce enough insulin to maintain a normal
glucose level. In Type 2 diabetes, the pancreas usually produces some insulin. But either the
amount produced is not enough for the body's needs, or the body's cells are resistant to it. Insulin
resistance, or lack of sensitivity to insulin, happens primarily in fat, liver, and muscle cells.
 GESTATIONALDIABETES:
Gestational diabetes occurs when there is a high blood glucose level during pregnancy.
As pregnancy progresses, the developing baby has a greater need for glucose. Hormone
changes during pregnancy also affect the action of insulin, which brings about high blood

3. glucose levels. Pregnant women who have a greater risk of developing gestational
diabetes include those who: Are over 25 years old.
 CAUSES:
The causes of diabetes are not known. The following factors may increase your chance of
getting diabetes:
 Family history of diabetes or inherited tendency
 African-American, Hispanic, Native American, or Asian-American race, Pacific Islander
or ethnic background
 Being overweight (20 percent or more over your desired body weight)
 Physical stress (such as surgery or illness)
 Use of certain medications, including steroids and blood pressure medications
 Injury to the pancreas (such as infection, tumor, surgery, or accident)
 Autoimmune disease
 High blood pressure
 Abnormal blood cholesterol or triglyceride levels
 Age (risk increases with age)
 Alcohol (risk increases with years of heavy alcohol use)
 Smoking
 History of gestational diabetes or delivery of a baby weighing more than 9 pounds (4.1
Kg).
 Pregnancy
 SYMPTOMS:
The symptoms of diabetes include:
 Increased thirst
 Increased hunger (especially after eating)
 Dry mouth
 Frequent urination
 Unexplained weight loss (even though you are eating and feel hungry)
 Weak, tired feeling
 Blurred vision
 Numbness or tingling in the hands or feet
 Slow-healing sores or cuts
 Dry and itchy skin (usually in the vaginal or groin area)
 Frequent yeast infections

4.  COMPLICATIONS:
Long-term complications of diabetes develop gradually.. Possible complications
include:
 Cardiovasculardisease. Diabetes dramatically increases the risk of various
cardiovascular problems, including coronary artery disease with chest pain (angina), heart
attack, stroke and narrowing of arteries (atherosclerosis).
 Nerve damage (neuropathy). Excess sugar can injure the walls of the tiny blood
vessels (capillaries) that nourish body nerves, especially in legs. This can cause
numbness, burning or pain that usually begins at the tips of the toes or fingers and
gradually spreads upward. Left untreated, person could lose all sense of feeling in the
affected limbs. Damage to the nerves related to digestion can cause problems with nausea,
vomiting, diarrhea or constipation..
 Kidney damage (nephropathy). The kidneys contain millions of tiny blood vessel
clusters (glomeruli) that filter waste from your blood. Diabetes can damage this delicate
filtering system. Severe damage can lead to kidney failure or irreversible end-stage kidney
disease, which may require dialysis or a kidney transplant.
 Eye damage (retinopathy). Diabetes can damage the blood vessels of the retina ,
potentially leading to blindness. Diabetes also increases the risk of other serious vision
conditions.
 Footdamage. Nerve damage in the feet or poor blood flow to the feet increases the risk
of various foot complications. Left untreated, cuts and blisters can develop serious
infections, which often heal poorly. These infections may ultimately require toe, foot or
leg amputation.
 Skin conditions. Diabetes may leave you more susceptible to skin problems, including
bacterial and fungal infections.
 Alzheimer's disease. Type 2 diabetes may increase the risk of Alzheimer's disease. It
occurs due to poor blood sugar level.

5.  DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS
 Raw, Cooked, or RoastedVegetables- These add color, flavor, and texture to a meal.
Choose tasty, low-crab veggies, like mushrooms, onions, eggplant, tomatoes, Brussels
sprouts, and low-crab squashes, like zucchini.
 Greens- Roast kale leaves in the oven with olive oil for quick, crunchy chips. You can
also mix greens in with roasted veggies to add texture and a different flavor, or serve
them with a little protein, like salmon.
 TREATMENT:
 Retinopathy (eye disease): All patients with diabetes should see an ophthalmologist (eye
specialist) every year for a dilated eye examination. Patients with known eye disease or
symptoms of blurred vision in one eye or who have blind spots may need to see their
ophthalmologist more often.
 Nephropathy (kidney disease): Urine testing should be performed every year. Regular
blood pressure checks also are important because control of high blood pressure is
essential in slowing kidney disease. Generally, blood pressure should be less than 130/80
in adults. Persistent swelling in the leg or feet also may be a symptom of kidney disease
and should be reported to your doctor.
 Neuropathy (nerve disease): Numbness or tingling in your feet should be reported to
your doctor at your regular visits. Check your feet every day for redness, calluses, cracks,
or breakdown in the skin tissue. If you notice these symptoms before your scheduled
visits, notify your doctor immediately.