Diabetes Mellitus causes inability in the body to produce or properly use a the hormone insulin.
The main characteristic of diabetes Mellitus is that it raises the level of sugar in the blood, which is known as hyperglycemia.
The lack or failure in the action of insulin alters metabolism, that is, violates the process that converts to the food we eat in energy, so the body can not metabolize or effectively utilize nutrients such as carbohydrates, proteins and fats. It is chronic in nature. When it is determined that a person is diabetic, it will be for a lifetime. Until now, diabetes can be controlled with proper treatment, but still can not be cured.
The largest producer of insulin is the pancreas. The pancreas is a gland located between the abdomen and stomach, which performs important functions both for the circulatory system and for the digestive system. Inside the pancreas there are small clusters or islets (called islets of Langerhans) which produce and synthesize this hormone.
The primary function of insulin is to transport through the body a type of sugar called glucose. This nutrient is the main source of energy in the body.
After the digestion, the glucose moves into the circulatory system, which will be available for cells to use it, store it and use it later. In order for the body to absorb it, we need the presence of insulin in the blood, which performs the function of opening the cells allowing their entry.
In turn, glucose stimulates the beta cells to produce insulin. These cells released into the blood the necessary amount of hormones so that it can enter the tissue and keep the glucemy (amount of blood glucose) within its normal value of 70-110 mg / dl. In most diabetics that does not work like that; there is insulin, but it can not act properly because their presence is scarce in the body. Thus, glucose stays in blood and disorders start to show up