Monday, March 16, 2009

Diabetes mellitus can potentially lead to high blood pressure, blindness, and kidney failure. Why is this

Diabetes mellitus can potentially lead to high blood pressure, blindness, and kidney failure. Why is this?

Diabetes - 1 Answers
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Diabetes mellitus: Better known just as "diabetes" -- a chronic disease associated with abnormally high levels of the sugar glucose in the blood. Diabetes is due to one of two mechanisms: (1) Inadequate production of insulin (which is made by the pancreas and lowers blood glucose) or (2) Inadequate sensitivity of cells to the action of insulin. The two main types of diabetes correspond to these two mechanisms and are called insulin dependent (type 1) and non-insulin dependent (type 2) diabetes. In type 1 diabetes there is no insulin or not enough of it. In type 2 diabetes, there is generally enough insulin but the cells upon it should act are not normally sensitive to its action. Diabetes mellitus is one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide. In addition to being a leading cause of blindness, diabetic eye disease encompasses a wide range of problems that can affect the eyes. Diabetes mellitus may cause a reversible, temporary blurring of the vision, or it can cause a severe, permanent loss of vision. Diabetes mellitus increases the risk of developing cataracts and glaucoma. Some people may not even realize they have had diabetes mellitus for several years until they begin to experience problems with their eyes or vision. Severe diabetic eye disease most commonly develops in people who have had diabetes mellitus for many years and who have had little or poor control of their blood sugars over that period of time. Diabetes mellitus may also result in heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and circulatory abnormalities of the legs.

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