Diabetes mellitus

Definition

Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood due to the body's inability to produce or properly use insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood sugar. This dysfunction can lead to serious health complications if not managed properly.

Related terms

Insulin:

A hormone produced by beta cells in the pancreas, crucial for regulating blood glucose levels by facilitating cellular glucose uptake.

Hyperglycemia: A condition characterized by unusually high levels of glucose in the blood, commonly associated with diabetes mellitus.

Pancreas: An organ in the abdominal cavity that has both digestive and endocrine functions, including the production of insulin by its beta cells