Diabetes mellitus
Universal blue circle symbol for diabetes.[1]
Pronunciation	/daɪəbiːtəs/
Specialty	Endocrinology
Symptoms	Frequent urination, increased thirst, increased hunger[2]
Complications	Diabetic ketoacidosis, nonketotic hyperosmolar coma, heart disease, stroke, chronic kidney failure, foot ulcers[2][3]
Diagnostic method	High blood sugar[2]
Treatment	Healthy diet, physical exercise[2]
Medication	Insulin, metformin[2][4]
Frequency	415 million (8.5%)[2][5]
Deaths	1.5–5.0 million per year[5][6]

Diabetes mellitus (DM), commonly referred to as diabetes, is a group of metabolic disorders in which there are high blood sugar levels over a prolonged period.^[7] Symptoms of high blood sugar include frequent urination, increased thirst, and increased hunger.^[2] If left untreated, diabetes can cause many complications.^[2] Acute complications can include diabetic ketoacidosis, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, or death.^[3] Serious long-term complications include cardiovascular disease, stroke, chronic kidney disease, foot ulcers, and damage to the eyes.^[2]

Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough insulin, or the cells of the body not responding properly to the insulin produced.^[8] There are three main types of diabetes mellitus:^[2]

• Type 1 DM results from the pancreas’s failure to produce enough insulin due to loss of beta cells.^[2] This form was previously referred to as “insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus” (IDDM) or “juvenile diabetes”.^[2] The cause is unknown.^[2]
• Type 2 DM begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which cells fail to respond to insulin properly.^[2] As the disease progresses a lack of insulin may also develop.^[9] This form was previously referred to as “non insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus” (NIDDM) or “adult-onset diabetes”.^[2] The most common cause is excessive body weight and insufficient exercise.^[2]
• Gestational diabetes is the third main form, and occurs when pregnant women without a previous history of diabetes develop high blood sugar levels.^[2]

Prevention and treatment involve maintaining a healthy diet, regular physical exercise, a normal body weight, and avoiding use of tobacco.^[2] Control of blood pressure and maintaining proper foot care are important for people with the disease.^[2] Type 1 DM must be managed with insulin injections.^[2] Type 2 DM may be treated with medications with or without insulin.^[6] Insulin and some oral medications can cause low blood sugar.^[10] Weight loss surgery in those with obesity is sometimes an effective measure in those with type 2 DM.^[11] Gestational diabetes usually resolves after the birth of the baby.^[12]

As of 2015, an estimated 415 million people had diabetes worldwide,^[5] with type 2 DM making up about 90% of the cases.^[13][14] This represents 8.3% of the adult population,^[14] with equal rates in both women and men.^[15] As of 2014, trends suggested the rate would continue to rise.^[16] Diabetes at least doubles a person’s risk of early death.^[2] From 2012 to 2015, approximately 1.5 to 5.0 million deaths each year resulted from diabetes.^[5][6] The global economic cost of diabetes in 2014 was estimated to be US$612 billion.^[17] In the United States, diabetes cost $245 billion in 2012.^[18]