Humanitas has a clinic specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of diabetes mellitus, which is a reference point for patients suffering from type 1 and type 2 diabetes.

“Type 1” diabetes, mostly seen in young individuals and known as insulin-dependent diabetes, is characterized by the dysfunction and progressive loss of pancreatic cells (beta cells) that produce insulin.

Diabetes mellitus type 2 (DM2) is a pathological condition caused by the combined effect and variable degree of two fundamental defects: tissue resistance to insulin (insulin resistance) and an insufficient secretion of insulin from the beta cells of the pancreas.

In diabetes, altered function of insulin secretion manifests itself from a clinical point of view, causing an excessive elevation of post-prandial glycemia in comparison to normal subjects. As the disease progresses, altered function ends up affecting second phase insulin secretion and increases blood glucose levels.

DM2 is characterized not only by a progressive decline in beta-cell function and deterioration of glycemic control, but also by an increased risk of complications in various organs and systems, particularly involving cardiovascular disease (CVD).

In patients with type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure is a major risk factor for developing coronary heart disease as well as dyslipidemia, which is characterized by the biochemical profile of the patient with diabetes and is also associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

Assiduous and careful control of glycemic parameters and other parameters relating to conditions that accompany hyperglycemia, such as obesity, hypertension and dyslipidaemia, has proven to significantly improve the risk of micro and macro vascular complications in diabetic patients.

The Operating Unit of Diabetology at Humanitas is capable of providing patients with full poly-specialized structural support, which offers the possibility of treating in an integrated and multidisciplinary approach, all the possible complications of this disease (the organs mostly affected are the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and vascular system) which expose the patient to high risk of cardiovascular disease.

Patients follow guidelines according to leading scientific societies, which propose regular checkups throughout the year, both on blood glucose levels and the presence of complications.