Diabetes, hyperglycaemia and insulin resistance

Diabetes mellitus is a condition caused by the inability to use sugar in the blood properly. A high level of blood sugar, called hyperglycaemia, is a sign of diabetes. Diabetes is defined as a fasting glucose level over 7 millimols per litre.

People with diabetes are at increased risk of heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, and nerve damage. Diabetes is treated with injections of insulin or with oral hypoglycaemic drugs. Dietary change, such as reducing sugar intake, may be advised.

Insulin is a hormone used to regulate sugar levels in the blood. Insulin resistance means the body is not able to use insulin properly to regulate sugar. Insulin resistance is one of the causes of diabetes, along with a lack of insulin. High levels of insulin resistance have been noted in individuals with fat accumulation and with lipoatrophy (fat wasting). Elevated insulin levels and insulin resistance have been identified as risk factors for developing buffalo hump.^{1 2}