Diabetes Mellitus: A Metabolic Disorder and its Screening Approaches

Abstract

A series of metabolic illnesses known as diabetes mellitus is characterised by chronic hyperglycemia brought on by deficiencies in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. The significance of insulin as an anabolic hormone leads to metabolic irregularities in carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins. These metabolic abnormalities are brought on by insufficient insulin levels to produce an adequate response and/or insulin resistance of target tissues, primarily skeletal muscles, adipose tissue, and to a lesser extent, liver, at the level of insulin receptors, signal transduction system, and/or effector enzymes or genes. Patients marked hyperglycemia and especially in children with absolute insulin deficiency may experience polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia, weight loss, and blurred vision. Type 2 diabetes patients are more likely to be asymptomatic in the early stages of the disease than other types of diabetes patients. Uncontrolled diabetes can cause ketoacidosis, nonketotic hyperosmolar syndrome, which can result in stupor, coma, and, if untreated, death.

Although categorization of diabetes is crucial and affects treatment approaches, it is a difficult undertaking because many individuals, particularly younger adults, do not simply fit into one class. The most widely used categorization of diabetes is still the one proposed by the American Diabetes Association (ADA) in 1997, which includes type 1, type 2, other kinds, and gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM). The difference between the two types depends on the pace, with the quicker tempo indicating a genotype that is more vulnerable and an earlier presentation in which obesity and, as a result, insulin resistance, are at the core of the theory. Increased height growth rate and decreased cell glucose sensitivity are further indicators of type 1 diabetes. Despite the inconsistent results of clinical trials using antioxidants in diabetes treatment regimens, the implications of elevated free radicals, oxidative stress, and many metabolic stressors in the development, pathogenesis, and complications of diabetes mellitus are very strong and well documented. Diabetes screening is crucial to preventing delayed diagnosis, especially in developing nations. The interplay of genetic and environmental factors plays a role in the development of diabetes. We are still learning new things about the mechanism of diabetes development from biomedical research.