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Diabetes
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Diabetes is a disease in which sugar and starch are not properly absorbed by the body and it occurs in two forms: diabetes inspindus and diabetes mellitus. Diabetes inspindus is a rare form and occurs due to a deficiency of the hormone that controls urine secretion ADH). Diabetes mellitus is much more common and occurs in two forms: Type1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes.
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Type 1 diabetes is caused by lack of insulin in the blood as a result of a massive loss of insulin secreting beta-cells in the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone secreted by the beta-cells in the islets of Langerhans in pancreas. When the blood glucose rises above normal it causes the liver and muscles to take up glucose , so restoring blood glucose level to normal, in other words insulin initiates the uptake of glucose from the blood. Lack of insulin in the blood will cause excess glucose to go in the blood making it more concentrated. In normal situation when the concentration of blood is high the pituitary glands excretes ADH which causes the kidneys to reabsorb water from urine so as to dilute the blood and therefore maintaining its concentration. In Type1 diabetes the glucose concentration is too high and is therefore excreted via the kidneys, associated with a considerable loss of water that results in frequent urination and thirst. Glucose is a source of energy in the respiring cells e.g. muscles. Since huge quantities of glucose is excreted, there is a shortage of it in the respiring cells, in response to this shortage the pancreas excretes glucagon which causes the liver to release glucose into the blood. The diabetic patients may also feel hungry and may increase their in take of food to compensate for the lost glucose. Proteins and lipids are also broken down to release even more glucose . The muscles make up the larger part of the body's protein. The use of the body's own protein causes the muscles to wear out, this makes the untreated sufferers to have a thin, wasted appearance. The fatty acids from lipid break down form acidic compounds known as ketone bodies, which may build up in the blood, lowering its pH and leading to coma or even death. Type1 diabetes is insulin dependent and occurs mostly in children (juvenile onset).
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Type2 diabetes is non-insulin dependent and usually comes on later in life. Type2 diabetes may be associated with obesity. In Type 2 diabetes, the cells become resistant to insulin and though the pancreas may produce enough insulin, it may not work as effectively. In both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, complications may include blindness, kidney failure, and heart disease. The causes of diabetes mellitus are not clear but it seems to involve both hereditary and environmental factors. diabetes cannot be cured, but it can be controlled. The treatment includes changes in diet, oral medications, and in some cases, daily injections of insulin.
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