Diabetes mellitus, without qualification, refers to a type of diabetes. It pertains to excess sweet urine known as "glycosuria". However, doctors often use diabetes mellitus to identify it from another disorder called diabetes insipidus - a rare type of diabetes that does not affect blood sugar. Nevertheless, diabetes symptoms for both types are very much alike.

Diabetes damages the nerves and causes sensation problems. It damages blood vessels and puts susceptible individuals to higher risks of stroke, heart attack and kidney failure. This makes diabetes and its varieties a deadly disease.

Significant diabetes symptoms include frequent urination and a frequent feeling of being thirsty. People lose weight albeit they do not intend to. The story behind diabetes is this: When we eat and drink, our intake of food is broken down into small materials (glucose or simple sugar included). An imbalance of glucose is a trademark of diabetes mellitus.

Our body needs glucose to function normally. This is absorbed in the blood and triggers the pancreas to release insulin. Insulin pushes the sugar to move from the bloodstream into the cells. Once inside the cells, sugar is turned to energy, which can be stored only until it is needed or it can be used immediately. If the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or if the body cells don't respond to the insulin that is being produced, more sugar stays in the bloodstream and the cells will lack sugar in return. This scenario produces the complications of diabetes symptoms. Thus, diabetes symptoms commence.

When sugar levels rise in the bloodstream, it spills into the urine. This is why diabetes mellitus patients urinate a lot. When the kidney sees much sugar in the blood, it produces additional water to dilute the excessive sugar. Due to this, large volumes of urine are produced. This recurring urination also causes an abnormal and frequent feeling of thirst - one of the basic (above-mentioned) diabetes symptoms. Since calories are lost in the urine, diabetic patients tend to lose weight. They also feel frequent hunger. Other signs include drowsiness, blurred vision, decreased endurance and nausea.

Causes of diabetes mellitus can be blamed mainly to genetics. Doctors diagnose diabetes by measuring blood sugar levels. Treatment may include insulin (through tablets or injection), transplant of pancreas but the latter has been proven with limited success. If not treated properly, diabetes mellitus can lead to dysfunctional organs and eventually, to death.

Adequate treatment of diabetes symptoms is of great importance as well as control of blood sugar levels. Lifestyle factors such as maintaining proper healthy body weight, taking proper food and drink should be taken into serious consideration. Most of all, stop drinking alcohol and stop smoking since these can develop diabetes conditions.