Diabetes in action Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a disease that results from hyposecretion or hypoactivity of insulin (Marieb 620). Blood sugar, also known as glucose, is the main source of energy for the body's cells; however, a high glucose level can be fatal. According to the CDC, diabetes mellitus is the seventh leading cause of death in the United States (Hoyert 4). DM can be divided into two types: type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Type 1 DM is the lack of insulin and type 2 DM is the presence of insulin but its effect is defective. Type 1 diabetes usually occurs in children or adolescence. Type 2 diabetes occurs at any age and is often preventable. The signs and symptoms of diabetes vary between individuals and the type of diabetes they have. “Some people, especially those with prediabetes or type 2 diabetes, may not experience symptoms initially. In type 1 diabetes, symptoms tend to come on quickly and be more severe." Signs and symptoms of diabetes include the following: increased thirst, frequent urination, extreme hunger, unexplained weight loss, presence of ketones in the urine (ketones are a byproduct of the breakdown of muscle and fat that occurs when there is not enough insulin), fatigue, blurred vision, slow-healing sores, high blood pressure, and frequent infections (Mayo Clinic staff). Type 1 diabetes is caused by the body's immune system not recognizing the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas, leading the immune system to attack the cells. Therefore, the body has an insulin deficiency or no insulin at all. So glucose is not transported to the cells but remains in the bloodstream leading to hyperglycemia. “Type 1 is thought to be caused by a combination of genetic predisposition and environment… halfway through the paper… a point where he went for an A1C test with a level of 4.5. His doctor was amazed and then started him on the lowest dosage of metformin. He was told to return for A1C testing in three months. Again his A1C test was less than 6.5. His doctor then stopped him from metformin, and his A1C test in six months was still less than 6.5. His doctor told him his case was "phenomenal" because people with type 1 diabetes cited Hoyert, Donna L. and Jiaquan Xu. "Deaths: preliminary data for 2011." National Vital Statistics Reports 61.6 (2012): 4. Print.Marieb, Elaine N., and Katja Hoehn. Human anatomy and physiology. 9th ed. Boston: Pearson, 2012. Print. Mayo Clinic staff. "Diabetes." MayoClinic.com. Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research, 31 January 2013. Web. 2 December. 2013. .