What is Diabetes?

Diabetes Mellitus, commonly referred to as "diabetes," means "sweet urine." Diabetes mellitus means "to flow, honey" in Greek.

It is a disease that affects the body's ability to produce or respond to insulin, a hormone that allows blood glucose (blood sugar) to enter the cells of the body and be used for energy. It results from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. In diabetes too much glucose stays in the blood. Elevated levels of blood glucose (hyperglycemia) lead to spillage of glucose into the urine.

As a result of elevated levels of blood glucose, two problems occur: body cells become starved for energy, and, over time, the high glucose levels can damage the nerves, eyes, kidneys, heart and blood vessels.

Diabetes is not an infectious disease, like a cold or flu. You can’t "catch" it from someone else, and no one can catch it from you. Diabetes is a lifelong disease.

Men with diabetes often have erectile dysfunction which can begin before the diagnosis of diabetes is made. It is therefore recommended that men with unexplained erectile dysfunction be screened for diabetes with a fasting blood glucose test.

What is high blood sugar?

• Normal blood sugar: 65 -140.
• High blood sugar: 250-350
• Very high blood sugar: (over 350)

What happens when blood sugar falls too low?

When blood sugar falls too low, the body will begin a process to increase blood sugar. The process is listed below.