Diabetes is a tiptoe thief of health. It can damage any part of the body except hair, nail and teeth (any how, it can make them to fall). Diabetes also remains as an excellent basement to promote many diseases, for example, heart diseases, stroke, blindness, kidney failure, nerve disorders, recurrent boils, etc. One cannot realize, when diabetes had entered their body and where all it had made damages. So, after the age of 40, to have better health, it is always worth to have routine check ups at the least once in a year (especially in those who have family history of diabetes).

Diabetes is named after the Greek word "Diabainein" which means for "passage through". It actually means that nutrients of food (especially sugar / glucose) just pass through the body with out any utilization accompanied with excessive urination and voracious thirst. Here as glucose required by body is simply passed in the urine, tiredness and loss of weight becomes unavoidable. Many people would think that high intake of sugar causes diabetes. Actually it is not so. It is because of failure to utilize the sugar with failure in production of insulin (hormone secreted by beta cells of Islets of langerhan's in pancreas) or with the development of insulin resistance in cells. The condition is just like looking for the water in midst of sea. Here, in spite of having good amount of water and glucose, more craving for water and sugar occurs due to body need. Commonly, Diabetes is named as SUGAR against its sweet urine (as it contains glucose).

INCIDENCES - Over 30 millions of people are suffering (living) with diabetes in India. Diabetes can attack any one at any time. Even though it is commonly seen in elderly people and pregnant ladies, it can occur even in new born babies or even in gestational period. Also, its incidences are more common in stressed out people (upper and middle class people), obese personalities, sedentary workers, hypertensive patients and those who have family history of diabetes. Diabetes is also treated as Ancestor's treasure where one cannot simply avoid it. Any how, sufferers can surely lead a healthy normal life provided they follow stress reduction, strict diet, adequate physical activities, regular medications, and follow healthy life style.

Diabetes is actually a multidimensional disease. It can be treated as a
Nutritional disease
Glandular disease (pancreas)
Hereditary disease
Life style disorder

Diabetes, in general refers for Diabetes Mellitus. The other form of Diabetes is Diabetes insipidus. It is a rare disease where one will have excessive thirst and excessive urination, but not sweet urine, i.e., glucose will not be there in urine and also there won't be any elevation in blood glucose levels. Insipidus is named after the Latin word tasteless. Diabetes insipidus commonly occurs due to kidney disorders especially due to lack of Anti-Diuretic Hormone (ADH - also called as vasopressin - secreted by kidney). Here, kidney cannot concentrate the urine and the urine will be in excess in much diluted form. Diabetes Insipidus can also occur due to various prolonged medications (drug induced). Here most of the symptoms are related with dehydration. Simply, more amount of water can maintain this condition.

Further, Diabetes mellitus has two forms

Type I diabetes or Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM)
Type II diabetes or Non Insulin Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)

(To be continued)