Diabetes:
 Diabetes where blood sugar (glucose) levels are too high, can present in younger years and often requires insulin treatment. In adulthood the condition may require either diet control or with oral medication. Diabetes often presents with weight loss and over-abundant production of urine. In most cases it is easy to diagnose from a simple urine or blood test. With borderline measurements of random blood glucose levels, the diagnosis is made from a fasting level.
The mainstay of diabetic treatment is patient driven. Patients are educated in the lifestyle measures required to optimize blood sugar control, and are empowered to monitor their control with urine and blood testing kits. Certainly the outlook and prognosis of this progressive condition are improved by tight blood sugar control. Patients may feel that they are well controlled from their own serial measurements, but regular (say twice yearly) hospital blood tests of "glycosylated haemoglobin" give a clearer indication of long term control.
Poor control is associated with development of generalized vascular disease (blood vessels) affecting the blood vessels of the head causing stroke and eye damage, affecting the kidneys causing renal failure, and affecting the heart. Direct effects on blood vessels in the major arteries can restrict blood supply to the legs. Damage to blood vessels and sensory nerves is associated with skin ulcers which can be troublesome.
There is a close relationship between diabetes and hypertension. Firstly some of the unpleasant substances produced by the chemical reactions in diabetes may promote hypertension.
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