What is diabetes mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disorder in which the body’s ability to use sugars is reduced. This can cause raised levels of glucose in the blood and its excretion in the urine. In more severe acute cases, this can lead also to a loss in the balance of water and minerals in the body. These changes are the result of a deficiency of the pancreatic hormone, insulin. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 or insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), an autoimmune disease, and type 2 or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM). In type 1 diabetes especially, there may be a production of chemicals called ketones, which can make the breath smell of acetone, and ultimately, if not treated, cause coma. In a few cases, diabetes can be caused by factors including diseases of the pancreas, some medications and other hormonal conditions.