Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus Better known as diabetes, is a chronic condition that results in high levels of sugar in the blood. There are three types of diabetes: type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Diabetes develops via two main mechanisms, in type 1 diabetes the pancreas ceases to produce insulin; in type 2 diabetes the cells fail to respond to insulin over time. Insulin is a hormone, secreted by the pancreas, that works to decrease blood sugar levels by allowing the uptake of glucose by the body’s cells. Without uptake by the cells, glucose remains in the blood stream where it is toxic to the body and can cause nerve damage, poor circulation, vision problems and cardiovascular disease.
Diabetes mellitus is a risk factor for the development of atrial fibrillation. It is thought that diabetes can lead to inflammation of the atria (upper chambers) of the heart, causing atrial fibrillation. A research study, published in the Journal of American College of Cardiology, concluded that women with type 2 diabetes had nearly double the risk of developing atrial fibrillation.
