Diabetes and its control
Types of diabetes
type 1
type 2
Beter cells are unable to produce insulin
The beter cells in the islets of Langerhans do NOT! produce insulin
It arises from an autoimmune response
where the body's own immune system attacks beter cells
normally begins in childhood
patients can not effectively use insulin and control there blood sugar levels
may be due to beter cells not producing enough insulin or the cells do NOT! respond properly
this is often due to glycoproteins receptors not working properly
largely a result of excess body weight physical inactivity and excessive over eating of refined food.
The systems are similar to type 1 but are often less severe
Treatment of diabetes
Type 1
Type 2
Controlled by regular insulin injections
They have to regularly test their blood glucose concentration
normally by pricking there figure
Too much insulin being injected may result in hypoglycaemia
very LOW blood glucose concentration
Too little insulin being injected results in hyperglycaemia
HIGH levels of blood glucose
regulate the persons carbohydrate intake
Through there diet and matching this to their exercise
over weight people are also encouraged to lose weight
however sometimes diest and exercise are NOT! enough to control blood glucose
so drugs will have to be used
drugs that stimulate insulin production
drugs that also slow down the rate at which the body absorbs glucose
medically produced insulin
originally was obtained from pig or cow pancreas
This process is difficult and expensive
Can also cause allergic reactions as it differs slightly from human insulin
may also be made by genetically modified bacteria
Has a number of advantages
insulin can be produced in much higher quantities
production costs are much cheaper
Human insulin is produced in a pure form LESS LIKLY! to cause allergic reactions
religious or ethical views are over come
potential use of stem cells in diabetes treatment
1000 people with type 1 diabetes receive a pancreas
Doctors attempted to inject patients with pancreatic beter cells but fewer than 8% of cell transplants performed have been successful
The transplant can leave a person susceptible to infection
stem cells offer advantages over current therapies:
Reduced likelihood of rejection problems as embryonic stem cells are generally not rejected by the body
people no longer have to inject themselves with insulin.
Donor availability would not be an issue-Stem cells could produce and unlimited source of new beter cells
NOT! a curable disease, but can be controlled