A Study on the Prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus Among Students of Hail University

Glucose is the main type of sugar found in blood and main source of energy. Glucose comes from the food and is also made in liver and muscles. Blood carries glucose to all of body’s cells to use for energy. Pancreas releases a hormone insulin, into blood. Insulin helps blood carry glucose to all body’s cells. Glucose stays in blood and doesn’t reach cells when body doesn’t make enough insulin or the insulin doesn’t work the way it should. Blood glucose levels increased and can cause diabetes or prediabetes. Prediabetes means that the amount of glucose in blood is above normal level but not high enough to be called diabetes. Chances of getting type 2 diabetes are higher with prediabetes. With some weight loss and moderate physical activity, the person can prevent type 2 diabetes. The person can even return to normal glucose levels, possibly without taking any medicines. [13] Diabetes is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both. Several pathogenic processes are involved in the development of diabetes. [3] The prevalence of type 2 diabetes has risen steadily in recent decades, and type 2 diabetes is now a global health problem. Diabetes causes greater morbidity and mortality. There is increased concern about prevalence of type 2 diabetes in Arabic countries especially Saudi Arabia. [7] Therefore, the current study designed to determine the prevalence of diabetes mellitus among female students in University of Hail; study the association of diabetes mellitus in relation to obesity and using of BMI as a diagnostic tool in the current classification system for obesity