Diabetes Mellitus

Khiria El-Feghi

Student at Kennedy Collegiate Institute, Windsor, Ontario, Canada

DMI Gazette. August 14, 2005

 

What is Diabetes Mellitus?

  • the failure of the body to produce the hormone insulin (type1)

  • the production of inept insulin which body cells do not recognize (type 2)

What are the causes of Diabetes Mellitus?

  •  genetically inherited

  • external factors for instance viral infections for type 1 diabetes mellitus

  • Viral infections such as Mumps and Coxsackie are the source of autoimmune destruction, in which atypical antibodies are produced and directed to instigate damage to the pancreas

  • external factors for instance obesity (increase in body fat) for type 2 diabetes mellitus

What gland is involved?

                Pancreas:

  • an endocrine (hormone) gland

  • in human its located behind the stomach

  • a small elongated organ

  • The number and size of the islets of Langerhans (containing beta cells which are responsible for the production of insulin) are decreased by lymphocytic infiltrates; leading to decreased insulin production and glucose intolerance.

What are the symptoms and their causes?

  • High blood pressure:

  • since glucose lingers in the blood due to the cells’ incapability to utilize it

  • Increased thirst and fluid intake:

  • there is more unused glucose to be excreted from the body, consequently urine output increases, causing dehydration.

  • Increased appetite, weight loss, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea:

  • appetite is increased to compensate for the cells’ glucose malnourishment. Deficiency of insulin causes the breakdown of fat cells, and nerve damage in the stomach and intestines can causes fastroparesis (delayed emptying of food from the stomach into the intestines).

  • Blurred vision, diabetic retinopathy:

  • The unhealthy small blood vessels in the back of the eyes cause outflow of protein and blood in the retina, causing retinal disfigurement and retinal detachment, impairing vision. Poor control of blood sugar further provokes eye disease, with cataracts and glaucoma being more widespread.  And the lens of the eye swells and contracts according to the blood concentration.

  • Slow-healing infections:

  • Due to blood vessel impairment, blood circulation becomes inadequate and injuries in the margins like hands or feet are unable to heel quickly, causing serious infections, gangrene or ulcers.

What are the treatments available?

Type 1:

  • Direct injection of insulin into their bodies through an insulin pump, jet injector or several forms.

Type 2:

  • Diet, exercise, and lose weight but eventually oral hypoglycemics and even insulin therapy.

Reference:

1. Classification and diagnosis of diabetes mellitus and other categories of glucose intolerance. National Diabetes Data Group. Diabetes 1979;28: 1039-57.

2. “Diabetes Mellitus,” Microsoft® Encarta Encyclopaedia 2000. © 1993-2000 Microsoft Corporation.  All Rights Reserved.