• First Aid.
• Sketchy.
• Notes.

Definition and Etiology.

Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism. It's caused by either a relative or absolute deficiency of insulin, resulting in hyperglycemia. This condition often leads to end-organ complications such as nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy, and accelerated atherosclerosis. In rare cases, DM can be caused by unopposed secretion of growth hormone (GH) and epinephrine. It can also occur in patients undergoing glucocorticoid therapy, a condition known as steroid diabetes.

A. Type 1 DM (insulin-dependent or juvenile onset)

• Accounts for 5-10% of diabetes worldwide.
• Usually occurs before the age of 30 (onset in childhood).
• There's an increased prevalence of autoantibodies to islet cells (insulin dependent from an early age).
• Not related to obesity. Patients typically have a lean body build and are prone to ketosis due to absent insulin production.

B. Type 2 DM (non-insulin-dependent or maturity onset)

• It is the most common type of diabetes, accounting for 90% of cases.
• Onset usually occurs in adulthood, typically at age 40 or older.
• It is directly related to obesity.