New News Biology #39

Diabetes

There are two types of diabetes. Both have one thing in common, that is patients with diabetes can’t regulate their blood glucose concentration effectively, a result of a messed up insulin system.

Recap: Insulin is a hormone produced by the organ known as the pancreas.

Insulin helps some cells absorb more glucose, turning them into glycogen.

This helps bring the blood glucose concentration way down.

Without insulin, there isn’t anything to stop the blood glucose concentration from growing.

Type 1 Diabetes; Occurs during childhood or in teenage years.

This type of diabetes is lifelong, and can an inherent condition.

The pancreas stops or produces little to none insulin.

It can make the patient ill or even kill them.

MAIN TREATMENT: Inject insulin into the patient, for best effect, this is often done after they have eaten a meal.

OTHER RECOMMENDATIONS: Eat less sugar, and exercise regularly. Muscles can help absorb more blood glucose when exercising.

Type 2 Diabetes; Happens to older people who continuously have a bad diet.

Cells become resistant to insulin, and don’t respond to it anymore, resulting in the cells not taking in much glucose from the blood.

Although the pancreas may still be producing insulin, it doesn’t have a substantial or visible effect on the high glucose concentration levels.

It is mainly a result of poor lifestyle choices which have been in place for a rather long time.

INCORRECT TREATMENT: Inject insulin into the patient

CORRECT TREATMENT: Commit to a healthy, low sugar diet, as well as regular

exercise to help lower the levels (which is similar to the recommendations for Type 1 Diabetes)