Diabetes

DIABETES

Diabetes mellitus is a disease of the endocrine system. The endocrine system is composed of glands that secrete hormones. One of these glands, the pancreas, actually pulls double duty by secreting insulin and acting as a digestive organ. The endocrine tissue of the pancreas is composed of certain clusters of cells known as islets of Langerhans, named after Dr. Paul Langerhans. Islets are constructed of three cell types: alpha cells, beta cells, and delta cells (Ford-Martin, 2004, p.3).

Another key player in this disease is the liver which is the center of glucose storage. The liver converts the glucose, or the fuel the body uses for energy, into glycogen which can be stored until needed. Insulin is the hormone needed to make these changes. Together, the liver and pancreas work to maintain a balance of blood glucose and insulin.

There are three common types of diabetes which include Type I, Type II, and Gestational Diabetes. For many years, Type I was considered insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and Type II was called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Instead of classifying the disease by the cause, it was named by the treatment to control the disease. Since the early 1990's these terms have not been used.

Type I diabetes mellitus occurs when 90 percent of the beta cells have been destroyed. This is usually caused by an autoimmune disorder which forces the body to attack itself. When this happens the body then produces little to no insulin. Without insulin to assist in processing the glucose, blood sugars will rise. This is when the patient must administer insulin by subcutaneous injection to maintain a normal blood sugar level.

Type II diabetes mellitus is the most common type. It is different from Type I in that the body does produce insulin, but the body doesn't have the ability to use it properly. People with this type are considered to be insulin resistant. Since the body can not process the insulin to break down the glucose, it builds up in the bloodstream resulting in high blood sugars. Type II diabetes can usually be controlled with diet and oral medications.

Gestational diabetes mellitus is developed by women who are pregnant. This is similar to type II in that it is a case of being insulin resistant. Some women will go on to develop type II diabetes later in life. "It has been estimated that