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Biology
Human biology
Science
Before insulin was discovered, those with type 1 diabetestype 1 diabetes
Develops when the body does not produce the right amount of insulin or, in some cases, does not produce any at all. It must be treated with daily injections of insulin. People affected also need to manage their diet, eat regularly and plan exercise carefully to balance their energy needs with their food and insulin intake.
would die young. They would lose weight rapidly and were often described as living skeletons. Insulin treatment has saved many hundreds of thousands of lives.
With type 2 diabetestype 2 diabetes
The pancreas does produce insulin but cells stop responding properly to insulin. It is often linked to obesity and lack of exercise. Taking more exercise, losing weight and eating a carefully balanced diet can often control or even reverse type 2 diabetes.
, blood glucoseglucose
A type of sugar: a mono saccharide with 6 carbon atoms (a hexose sugar).
levels are not regulated properly, and symptoms are not particularly obvious.
Normally, excess glucoseglucose
A type of sugar: a mono saccharide with 6 carbon atoms (a hexose sugar).
is stored so that blood glucose levels returns to normal levels. Whereas those with type 1 or type 2 diabetestype 2 diabetes
The pancreas does produce insulin but cells stop responding properly to insulin. It is often linked to obesity and lack of exercise. Taking more exercise, losing weight and eating a carefully balanced diet can often control or even reverse type 2 diabetes.
cannot store this glucose and their blood glucose levels remain above normal between meals.
Insulin has rapid, intermediate and delayed actions. Insulin helps glucose to enter cells and, stimulates storage of excess blood glucose in the liver as glycogen. If a meal is missed, or the person is very active, glucose in the blood becomes depleted. Ordinarily, glucose stored in the liver would be used next, but if there is no store in the liver to release glucose, then levels can fall dangerously low. If left untreated, this may trigger confusion, loss of consciousness and even a coma. Take a look at the graph below to see what could happen if someone with diabetes misses a meal.
If someone with diabetes does not regulate their blood glucose, it can fluctuate between excessively high levels (hyperglycaemiahyperglycaemia
Raised blood glucose levels (more than 10mmol/l).
) and low levels (hypoglycaemiahypoglycaemia
Low blood glucose levels (less than 4mmol/l).
). Medicines can help prevent this but if the person does not regulate their glucose levels properly, over several years, both can cause problems.
Insulin injections can successfully treat type 1 diabetes. The hormone allows the liver, and other cells in the body, to take in and store glucoseglucose
A type of sugar: a mono saccharide with 6 carbon atoms (a hexose sugar).
normally. Researchers have developed different types of insulin medications. Some act quickly but for only a short period of time. Others take effect more slowly but last longer. Someone with diabetes may take combinations of these insulins to regulate their blood glucose level over a 24-hour period. A balanced dietbalanced diet
A diet which contains the correct amounts of carbohydrates, proteins, lipids, vitamins, minerals and fibre to provide your cells with the resources they need.
and regular meals are important in managing type 1 diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes generally happens in the over 40's and can be treated using combinations of medicines, insulin, diet control and exercise.
Healthy diet
Medicines
Regular exercise
The pancreaspancreas
An endocrine gland which produces insulin.
is surrounded by the gallbladder and the duodenumduodenum
Within the human body this is the first 25-30cm long section of the small intestine.
. It is both an exocrine and endocrine organ, as it secrets molecules trough ducts (exocrine) as well as the bloodstream (endocrine).
Injecting insulin on a regular basis can cause problems such as skin inflammation at places that are regularly used. Researchers are constantly working to develop better ways for patients to take insulin with the aim of helping sufferers maintain closer control of their blood glucoseglucose
A type of sugar: a mono saccharide with 6 carbon atoms (a hexose sugar).
levels.
Insulin is a protein and would be digested and inactivated if taken orally in tablets or capsules. Skin patches are being developed that allow the insulin to be directly absorbed into the body through the skin. Implants under the skin may also be a treatment of the future.
Small pumps are now available which inject insulin under the skin in a controlled way throughout the day. Miniaturised 'nanopumps' may soon replace the large pump shown here.
In the future, it may be possible to treat diabetes with gene therapygene therapy
A new, experimental method of fighting disease by replacing a defective gene with a healthy gene.
. This replaces faulty genes with working ones.
Pumps deliver controlled amounts throughout the day.
Using nanopumps may allow insulin to be delivered from pumps the size of skin patches.
Courtesy of: Insulin Nanopump™ from Debiotech SA, Switzerland