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  • Cataract formation can occur as a complication of diabetes (shown here in a person...
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What is diabetes mellitus?
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Diabetes mellitus (type 1, type 2) &...
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Diabetes Mellitus
Merck Manuals
Related terms:
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gonad disorder
hyperglycemia
hyperinsulinism
hypoglycemia
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Disease or Syndrome
diabetes mellitus Audio
di·a·be·tes [ dahy-uh-bee-tis, -teez ]
Subclass of:
Glucose Metabolism Disorders; Endocrine System Diseases
Definitions related to diabetes mellitus:
  • (diabetes) Diabetes is a disease in which your blood glucose, or blood sugar, levels are too high. Glucose comes from the foods you eat. Insulin is a hormone that helps the glucose get into your cells to give them energy. With type 1 diabetes, your body does not make insulin. With type 2 diabetes, the more common type, your body does not make or use insulin well. Without enough insulin, the glucose stays in your blood. You can also have prediabetes. This means that your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be called diabetes. Having prediabetes puts you at a higher risk of getting type 2 diabetes. Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause serious problems. It can damage your eyes, kidneys, and nerves. Diabetes can also cause heart disease, stroke and even the need to remove a limb. Pregnant women can also get diabetes, called gestational diabetes. Blood tests can show if you have diabetes. One type of test, the A1C, can also check on how you are managing your diabetes. Exercise, weight control and sticking to your meal plan can help control your diabetes. You should also monitor your blood glucose level and take medicine if prescribed. NIH: National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases
    MedlinePlus
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
  • A disease in which the body does not control the amount of glucose (a type of sugar) in the blood and the kidneys make a large amount of urine. This disease occurs when the body does not make enough insulin or does not use it the way it should.
    NCI Dictionary of Cancer Terms
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • A group of abnormalities characterized by hyperglycemia and glucose intolerance.
    Human Phenotype Ontology (HPO)
    The Human Phenotype Ontology Project, 2021
  • A heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by HYPERGLYCEMIA and GLUCOSE INTOLERANCE.
    NLM Medical Subject Headings
    U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2021
  • A metabolic condition, characterized by hyperglycemia, caused by insufficient secretion of insulin by the pancreas and/or decreased insulin action in target tissues.
    NICHD Pediatric Terminology
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • A metabolic disorder characterized by abnormally high blood sugar levels due to diminished production of insulin or insulin resistance/desensitization.
    NCI Thesaurus
    U.S. National Cancer Institute, 2021
  • Heterogeneous group of disorders that share glucose intolerance in common.
    CRISP Thesaurus
    National Institutes of Health, 2006
  • Diabetes mellitus is impaired insulin secretion and variable degrees of peripheral insulin resistance leading to hyperglycemia. Early symptoms are related to hyperglycemia and include polydipsia, polyphagia, polyuria, and blurred vision. Later complications include vascular disease, peripheral neuropathy, nephropathy, and predisposition...
    Merck Manuals
    Merck & Co., Inc., 2020
  • Diabetes mellitus, disorder of carbohydrate metabolism characterized by impaired ability of the body to produce or respond to insulin and thereby maintain proper levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. Diabetes is a major cause of morbidity and mortality, though these outcomes are not due to the...
    Encyclopedia Britannica
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Inc., 2020
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