Diabetes mellitus is a complex metabolic disorder with multiple factors which acts as etiology of diabetes. Diabetes mellitus is caused by a complex interaction of genetics and environmental factors. Diabetes mellitus is associated with disturbances in carbohydrate, fat and protein metabolism which are due to defects in secretion of insulin, defects in action of insulin, or both. Most important is disturbances in carbohydrate metabolism, which results in chronic hyperglycemia (higher than normal blood sugar level), which is the characteristic feature of diabetes mellitus.

The characteristic symptoms of diabetes are polyuria (frequent or excess urination), polydypsia (excessive thirst and excessive drinking of water) and polyphagia (over eating). The effects of diabetes mellitus are weight loss, blurring of vision and long-term damage, dysfunction and failure of various organs, such as kidney, nervous system, blood vessels and heart.

The symptoms of diabetes are generally not severe, or may be absent and sue to mild diabetic symptoms the disease is commonly ignored by the patient, which can cause chronic hyperglycemia for long enough time to cause pathological as well as functional changes in several organs before the diagnosis is actually made.

The most severe form of diabetes is diabetic ketoacidosis or a non-ketotic hyperosmolar state. Diabetic ketoacidosis can result in stupor, coma and, in absence of effective treatment it may lead to even death.

The long term complications of diabetes include retinopathy with potential blindness, nephropathy that may lead to renal failure, neuropathy with risk of foot ulcers, amputation, Charcot joints, and features of autonomic dysfunction (such as sexual dysfunction). All these long term complications may be more problematic if there is also associated hypertension (high blood pressure) along with diabetes. The association of hypertension with diabetes is very common and create unique problem for the patient as well as to the treating doctor.

Related articles:

The are the types of diabetes, can be found here: http://nethealthsite.com/types-of-diabetes.html