Diabetes is a disorder of carbohydrate metabolism. It is characterized by over-production of urine and by excess of glucose or blood sugar in the blood and urine. About half of diabetes cases have evident hereditary background. This is not only a serious disease but a common one as well.

The onset may be at any age. In usual cases, the disease first becomes obvious following some major demand on the body’s resources such as severe injury, a serious infection, or emotional stress. It is more frequent in overweight persons than in those of normal weight.

Symptoms include excess production of urine, excessive thirst, a desire to move bowels at night, bed-wetting, weakness, and itching of the skin.

The most important factor in the treatment of diabetes is probably diet. In many cases, diabetes can be handled satisfactorily without the need for insulin or other medicines. This is on the premise that the patient strictly follows a consistent dietary program. An apt diet for a diabetic patient is pertinently normal. However, it usually does away with the more rapidly absorbed carbohydrates except, of course, that this may be tolerated in small amounts. It is important that the patient eats neither too much nor too little, therefore all portions of food must be measured with extra care. And just as the diabetic patient must keep a close watch of his/her diet, so too should he/she must carefully regulate his/her physical exercise. The patient nonetheless should have some physical exercise each day. As in the case of diet, the possible outcome of the patient’s taking too little or too much exercise may be just as serious.

Another important factor in the treatment of diabetes is the administering of insulin. This is the reliable way to control the blood-sugar level in diabetics.