“Pathophysiology” is a term used to describe the study of the changes seen in normal mechanical, physical, and biochemical functions that are either caused by a disease or the result of an abnormal syndrome. The pathophysiology of a given disease or syndrome describes its causes, symptoms and effects.
When it comes to diabetes mellitus, the pathophysiology is a bit complicated. Diabetes mellitus refers to a collection of different syndromes, each with different behaviors and triggers, though all are related and characterized by shared symptoms and the effects of elevated glucose levels in the blood (hyperglycemia). There are three primary types of diabetes mellitus: Type One, Type Two, and gestational diabetes.
Gestational diabetes is the least insidious of the three. This is seen in pregnant women and usually goes away after the baby is born. The baby will not be born with diabetes itself, but suffering from gestational diabetes while pregnant does leave the woman at increased risk of developing Type Two diabetes later in life. Type Two diabetes is the most common form of the disease. In Type Two diabetes, the pancreas produces insulin but the body cannot react, respond or process it in a normal fashion. Type One diabetes is the last of the three primary forms and results when the pancreas loses its ability to produce insulin. It is considered an autoimmune disorder because the pancreas loses that ability due to the fact that the body’s own immune system attacks the cells that produce insulin and destroy them.
Symptoms of diabetes mellitus include excess thirst, excess hunger, frequent urination, fatigue, irritability, and unexplained weight loss. Diabetes can cause serious long term physical effects if not treated properly, so early detection is important. Treatment for diabetes mellitus can include lifestyle changes to diet and exercise as well as medications like insulin injections or oral insulin medications, depending on the type of diabetes mellitus that is diagnosed.