Diabetes Mellitus

commonly just referred to as diabetes, is a metabolic disease characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels. The high blood sugar is caused by abnormal insulin secretion or action or both. Under normal conditions, blood glucose levels are controlled by the hormone insulin which is made in the pancreas. Diabetes currently effects approximately 17 million people in the U.S., and its incidence is expected to rise. It is estimated that an additional 12 million people have diabetes and have not been diagnosed. In New Jersey alone, nearly 1 in 10 residents have diabetes.

There are two forms of diabetes: Type I or juvenile diabetes and Type II. Type I diabetes is caused by your body’s inability to make sufficient insulin due to some kind of destruction or dysfunction in the insulin producing beta cells of the pancreas. Type II diabetes is due to the body’s inability to use insulin properly and efficiently, causing elevated blood sugar. Along with this, the body’s ability to produce insulin also declines. Type II diabetes is largely lifestyle related.

Uncontrolled diabetes leads to a variety of other chronic illnesses such as blindness, kidney failure, micro-vascular disease and atherosclerosis, stroke, cardiovascular disease and other debilitating conditions.