Definition – persistently elevated blood glucose due to either insulin deficiency and/or insulin resistance
Epidemiology – major public health issue and disease burden resulting in vascular disease
Diagnostic criteria – fasting BSL > 7mmol/L (see other Diagnostic Criteria for Diabetes Mellitus)
Pathophysiology – Various causes due to either endocrine pancreatic insufficiency or peripheral tissue resistance to insulin resulting in hyperglycaemia and disorders of CHO/fat metabolism. Commonest cause related to high CHO/fat diet and inadequate activity
Complications – Acutely related to combination of hyperglycaemia (see Diabetic Ketoacidosis) and/or ketogenesis (see Hyperosmolar Non-ketotic Hyperglycaemia). Chronically resulting in vascular disease (see Diabetic complications)
Clinical features (related to high serum glucose) – polyuria, polydipsia
Management – lifestyle/diet change, pharmacological (see Diabetes Mellitus – Therapeutics)
Prevention – random urine glucose screening or fasting glucose for patients at risk e.g. obesity, history of vascular disease
*CHO = carbohydrate