| description | Protein which, if defective, causes diabetes mellitus, a disorder of impaired carbohydrate, protein, and fat metabolism due to insufficient secretion of insulin or to target tissue insulin resistance. Diabetes mellitus can be divided into two main types, type I or insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), and type II, or non insulin- dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). Type I diabetes mellitus normally starts in childhood or adolescence and is caused by the body's own immune system which destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Classical features are polydipsia, polyphagia and polyuria, due to hyperglycemia-induced osmotic diuresis. Type II diabetes mellitus normally starts in adulthood and is caused by a lack of sensitivity to the body's own insulin. It is usually characterized by a gradual onset with minimal or no symptoms of metabolic disturbance Both forms of diabetes mellitus lead to secondary complications (notably cardiovascular, nephropathy, retinopathy, neuropathy). Two other major subcategories of diabetes mellitus are gestational diabetes and diabetes secondary to other medical conditions. In common usage, the term diabetes, when used alone, refers to diabetes mellitus and not diabetes insipidus |
