Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes is a chronic, genetically determined, debilitating disease that affects every organ system. There are two major types of diabetes: Type I and Type II. Type I or insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM), is caused by the autoimmune destruction of the insulin producing cells of the pancreas and is usually, but not always diagnosed in childhood. People with type I diabetes must take insulin shots in order to survive. Type II diabetes or …showed first 75 words of 1081 total…

…showed last 75 words of 1081 total…retina and the kidneys, leading to blindness and kidney failure as common complications. People with type I diabetes are more likely to die of kidney failure than those with type II diabetes. Diabetes also promotes atherocslerosis, the blockage of blood vessels with fatty deposits, causing poor circulation. In type II diabetes, the most common cause of death is heart failure stemming from atherosclerosis of the coronary arteries. Atherosclerosis also contributes to renal failure and gangrene.