14.4 Diabetes And Its Control Flashcards
Hyperglycaemia
Raised blood sugar
Hypoglycaemia
Low blood sugar
Common symptoms of diabetes
High blood glucose concentration
Glucose in urine
Excessive need to urinate
Excessive thirst
Constant hunger
Weight loss
Blurred vision
Tiredness
Type 1 diabetes
Beta cells do not produce insulin
Cannot be prevented or cured
Begins in childhood
Thought to be an autoimmune disease
Type 2 diabetes
Cannot effectively use insulin to control blood sugar levels
Do not produce enough insulin or body cells do not respond properly to insulin
Caused by excess body weight, physical inactivity and excessive overeating
Treatment for type 1 diabetes
Controlled by regular infections of insulin
Treatment for type 2 diabetes
Regulate carbohydrate intake and balance with exercise
Lose weight
Drugs are used - slow down rate of glucose absorption from the intestine
Disadvantages of cow/pig insulin
Difficult process
Expensive
Could cause allergic reactions
GM bacteria insulin advantages
Produced in a pure form - less likely to cause allergic reactions
Can be produced in much higher quantities
Cheaper production costs
No religious or ethical problems
Pancreas transplants advantages vs disadvantages
Advantages
- No need for insulin
- Works for type 1 diabetes
Disadvantages
- immune system could attack foreign tissue
- Inflammation or blood clots
- Require immunosuppressants
Injecting with beta cells
- Low success rate
- Immunosuppressant drugs that are used to prevent rejection increase metabolic demand of insulin producing cells, so they are unable to produce insulin
How can stem cells be used to treat diabetes?
Small number of islet cells can restore insulin production
Using Totipotent stem cells to differentiate into beta cells
Advantages of stem cell therapy
Can produce unlimited number of beta cells
Reduced likelihood of rejection
No need for insulin injections
Disadvantages of stem cell therapy
Early embryos are destroyed - possible loss of life
Risk of tumours due to uncontrollable growth
