Two different diseases are called diabetes. About 200 million people around the world suffer from the disease called diabetes mellitus. Because the symptoms can be mild, many people do not even know that they have it. Left untreated, however, diabetes mellitus can cause serious health problems & even death. Diabetes insipidus is a rarer disease that affects the kidneys.
Diabetes mellitus happens when levels of glucose in the body are too high. Glucose is a sugar that the body gets from food & uses for energy. A hormone, or chemical, called insulin normally controls the level of glucose in the blood.There are several types of diabetes mellitus, including type I, type II, & gestational. In type I the body stops making insulin or does not make enough. This type of diabetes often happens in children & teenagers. In type II the body makes insulin but cannot use the hormone properly. Usually found in adults, type II is the most common type of diabetes. Some women have diabetes mellitus when they are pregnant. This condition, called gestational diabetes, usually goes away once the baby is born.Diabetes insipidus is a rare disease linked to a hormone called vasopressin. When the body does not make vasopressin or cannot use it, the kidneys produce too much urine.The chance of getting either kind of diabetes may be passed down from one generation to the next. Doctors do not know the exact cause of diabetes mellitus. Being overweight & not exercising seem to increase a person's risk of developing diabetes mellitus. Diabetes insipidus may be caused by brain damage, kidney damage, or certain drugs. Diabetes mellitus & diabetes insipidus have similar symptoms. Patients are often very thirsty. They also urinate a lot. The loss of water through urination can cause dry skin & tiredness. Untreated diabetes mellitus can lead to heart disease, kidney problems, blindness, the loss of feet or legs, & death. Untreated diabetes insipidus can lead to low blood pressure & shock.People with type I diabetes mellitus must have daily shots of insulin. Those with type II can usually control the disease with a healthy diet, weight loss, & medication if needed. Pregnant women can control gestational diabetes by eating healthily. Doctors treat diabetes insipidus with medications.
