Mellitus comes from the Latin for 'honey'.

Diabetes Mellitus is a term often used to describe Type 1 diabetes or even diabetes in general. As we became exposed to the condition, the different names and types of diabetes was an initial source of confusion. Let us give you a little history lesson on the origin of the word and hopefully it will help to clear things up.

The term Diabetes is Greek and means ‘that which passes through’. It was originally used in the 2nd century to describe a patient of a Greek physician who was exhibiting the symptoms of excessive urination.

Later, in the 17th century, the term Mellitus was attached to the disease. This term has its origin in Latin meaning ‘honey’ or ‘sweet’ and was used to distinguish between those with sweet-tasting urine (diabetes mellitus) from those with urine with no taste (diabetes insipidus).

Today, the two predominant forms of diabetes – Type 1 and Type 2 – are both considered forms of diabetes mellitus. As such, the term diabetes mellitus has become somewhat synonymous with the general term diabetes.

Confused? Don’t be. If you simply ignore the ‘mellitus’ at the end of the term you’ll basically be back to simply ‘diabetes’. Because the vast majority of people suffering from diabetes have a form of diabetes mellitus, you’ll be ok with this generalization.

Once you’re back to simply reading things as ‘diabetes’, then all you have to do is understand the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.

Before you were around someone with diabetes had you ever thought about your pancreas?  Probably not.  But once forced to understand glucose levels and insulin dosage you’re bound to really want to know what this organ was meant to do.

Essentially one of the core functions of the pancreas is to produce a protein hormone called insulin.  The production of insulin occurs continuously but fluctuates based on how many carbohydrates you are consuming.

As you eat carbohydrates they change into glucose and travel around your body.  The pancreas then kicks into action and produces just the right amount of insulin to counterbalance the glucose (amazing!).  As insulin is produced, it too travels around attaching to cell receptors throughout your body.  When glucose passes by, these insulin-laden receptors enable the cells in your body to absorb the energy or calories associated with the glucose.  The more glucose you have traveling around, the more insulin you need to absorb those calories.

Within the pancreas there are cells called beta cells that are responsible for creating your insulin.  This is where things have gone terribly wrong with Type 1 diabetes.  The beta cells have been destroyed and so the pancreas is no longer able to produce the insulin needed to help the body absorb glucose.

Without insulin in the body, a person can eat and eat but will eventually starve.  The inability to absorb the energy associated glucose (because insulin is not there on your cells) means that your body will start to look elsewhere for energy.  This is why extreme weight loss in a child is one of the warning signs of diabetes.

For those with Type 1 diabetes, because the pancreas is no longer able to produce insulin, they must provide their bodies with insulin by giving themselves injections or through a pump utilizing man-made insulin.

Though the onset of diabetes is devastating, it does help to remind us of the amazing complexity of the human body.

The most common form of diabetes globally is termed Type 2 diabetes.  Almost 90% of all diabetes cases in the US are Type 2, and in Thailand, where our son was diagnosed, Type 1 is essentially non-existent whereas Type 2 is rampant.

The core difference between the two types is the body’s ability to generate insulin.  In Type 2 diabetes, the body is still able to produce insulin, but it has become resistent to the produced insulin and so glucose levels rise.  In Type 1 however, the body loses its ability to even create insulin.

Both types create extreme situations and can impact the body in devastating ways if left untreated.  However, people with Type 1 diabetes are left with a single option today to control their disease – inject insulin into the body.

Type 2 sufferers on the other hand may also have to inject insulin, but they are often able to also control their situation through improved diet, reduced weight and other medications that help their bodies absorb the insulin they create.

There is also a third type of diabetes termed Gestational Diabetes.  This form can affect pregnant mothers during the course of their pregnancy.  It is thought that the hormonal changes taking place due to the pregnancy have an impact on the body’s ability to use insulin.  This affects approximately 4% of all pregnant women, and thought it usually goes away after the pregnancy, if left untreated can cause the woman to develop Type 2 diabetes.

You can find additional information by visiting the American Diabetes Association’s website