5.1.4 Diabetes Flashcards
What is diabetes mellitus
When pancreas either does not produce enough insulin or it does not respond to the insulin produced, meaning that blood glucose could always remain high (hyperglycaemia)
What is type one diabetes
Unable to produce insulin as B cells don’t produce it. The cause is unknown so it can’t be cured, however it can be treated with insulin shots. Evidence has shown that type one is a type of autoimmune disease that attacks the B cells of the body
What is type 2 diabetes
When a person cannot effectively use the insulin produced, either because it is made in small quantities or that the body cannot respond properly. This is because the glycoprotein insulin receptors don’t function properly on cell membranes so the body can’t take up glucose so it stays In the blood
What percentage of diabetic people have type 2
90% have type two due to excess body weight, physical inactivity, and habitual and excessive over eating of carbohydrates. Chances develop more as age goes on and it develops more fast than type 1
How to treat type 1?
Cannot be cured, but it can be controlled through insulin injections. People have to regularly check their blood sugar levels by pricking their finger which enters a machine that looks at blood glucose concentrations. Based on the concentration, they can work out their dosage. The injected insulin then triggers glycogenesis and increases the amount of blood glucose increases, reduces blood blood sugar conc
What happened when there’s too much blood glucose conc
Hypoglycaemia
What happens when blood sugar too low
Hypoglycaemia
How is type 2 regulated
Through careful diet regulation and exercise. However some drugs can be used whihc could stimulate insulin production, or slow the rate at which body changes glucose from small intestine.
How is genetically modified bacteria better for insulin
Less likely to cause allergic reaction
Produced in much higher quantities
Cheaper to produce
No more concerns over using animals
Why is type one autoimmune
Cytotoxic T cells kill B cells of islets of langerhans
What is pancreas transplant
1000 have pancreas transport every year with 80% success. However the transplant is more dangerous than the diabetes itself. The transplant requires immunosuppressants whihc can leave a person susceptible to infection
Is injection of B cells successful?
8%
How are stem cells used in diabetes?
Only a few B cells are needed to restore insulin production, making it great for stem cell therapy. Embryonic stem cells would be the best to differentiate into B cells. However harvesting these stem cells results in embryo death. However these embryos are spare from left over fertility treatment.
Embryonic stem cells are less likely to be rejected and people don’t need to inject themselves with insulin anymore
