Affiliation:
1. Trinity College Dublin and Diabetes Institute of Ireland
Abstract
Most people will know the word diabetes. Few people will not know it has something to do with sugar. Diabetes mellitus is the complete name for the condition, mellitus meaning sweet or honey taste found in the urine. Not to be confused with Diabetes insipidus, a condition of the pituitary gland, the kidney or the Psyche where water cannot be retained by the body and very severe thirst and huge polyuria (passing a huge amount of urine occurs). The condition Diabetes mellitus was known in Egyptian times and in recent times has become so much more prevalent. Alas most people will have a relation with the condition and will be aware that complications can occur such as blindness. Even today with all our new medications and all our new knowledge, still diabetes shortens life span by 10 or so years but this figure is rapidly getting less due to earlier diagnosis and better treatment for high blood sugar, cholesterol and high blood pressure.