title: An overview of diabetes.
abstract: Healthcare professionals in all settings increasingly encounter people with diabetes. Suboptimal control of diabetes may have harmful effects on multiple systems in the body and can result in life-changing and life-threatening complications. Therefore, it is crucial that all healthcare professionals have an understanding of diabetes. This article considers the increase in people developing diabetes worldwide. It defines type 1 and type 2 diabetes and discusses the associated pathophysiology and predisposing factors. The article outlines the basis for the development of the typical signs and symptoms associated with high blood glucose levels. Current guidelines for diagnosing a person with diabetes are considered.
authors.affiliation: School of Healthcare, University of Leeds, Leeds, England.
authors.forename: Paula
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mayo
mesh_terms: D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents
keywords: diabetes; diagnosing diabetes; pathophysiology of diabetes; predisposing factors for diabetes; signs and symptoms of diabetes; type 1 diabetes; type 2 diabetes