5.1.4 Hormonal Communication

Question 1

past/current treatments for type 1 diabetes

Answer 1

past = from animal pancreas (pig)
current = from recombinant bacteria

Question 2

advantages of insulin treatments for type 1 diabetes

Answer 2

animal insulin = tested & trialled method, early treatment kept people alive
human insulin = high purity, low risk of allergic reaction, low production cost, use of smart pumps - monitored by apps

Question 3

disadvantages of insulin treatments for type 1 diabetes

Answer 3

animal insulin = needs to be purified, risk of allergic reaction, high production cost
human insulin = some may not understand technology of injection routine, side effects of pump - hard lumps forming under skin

Question 4

potential treatments for type 1 diabetes

Answer 4

transplant = pancreas, islets, pancreatic stem cells
immunotherapy, gene therapy

Question 5

advantages of the potential treatments for type 1 diabetes

Answer 5

transplant = improved quality of life, no need for insulin injections, reduced risk of ‘hypos’
immunotherapy = reprogrammed immune system, prevents beta cell damage

Question 6

disadvantages of the potential treatments for type 1 diabetes

Answer 6

transplant = req. for immunosuppression, availability of donor tissue, risk of cancer with stem cells, ethics of stem cell use
immunotherapy = needs more clinical trials, in the early stages