Advances in Diabetes Mellitus: A Contemporary Review

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorder in which a person has high blood sugar either because the body does not produce enough insulin or because cells do not respond to the insulin. There are three main types of diabetes, Type I, Type II and Gestational, insulin therapy is used for the treatment of diabetes by administration of exogenous insulin.  Several classes of oral hypoglycemic agents like sulfonylureas, biguanides and alpha-glucosidase inhibitors are available for the treatment of type II diabetes.  Tremendous advances have occurred in past few decades. New technologies include a variety of alternatives to needle injection for insulin delivery, advances in blood glucose (BG) monitoring devices and novel treatment technologies. The overall goal of DM technology to improve BG control, avoid long term complications and improve patient quality of life. Although these new technologies interesting to use, they must improve outcomes such as BG control and prevent long term complications to be effective and receive widespread acceptance.