This metabolic disease is characterised by a lack of insulin, which causes high levels of glucose in the blood.
Insulin is necessary for the body's cells to use glucose as an energy source. The deficit is caused by the destruction of pancreatic beta cells responsible for producing this hormone. The exact cause is unknown, but it is believed to be a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors that trigger an autoimmune response.
High blood glucose levels cause three main symptoms: increased thirst (polydipsia), increased urination (polyuria), and increased appetite (polyphagia).
Diagnosis is made through clinical and analytical means, including the determination of glucose levels in the blood.
The goal of treatment is to lower blood sugar levels and prevent diabetic ketoacidosis. Treatment involves intermittent or continuous subcutaneous insulin injections using an implantable pump.
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- Alvin C. Powers. Diabetes mellitus: diagnóstico, clasificación y fisiopatología. Harrison. Principios de Medicina Interna, 19e. Capítulo 417
