Diabetes and its Control (chapter 4 of hormonal communication)

Question 1

Type 1 diabetes

Answer 1

• People affected are unable to produce insulin - the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans don’t produce it
• The condition arises as a result of an autoimmune response
• There is no cure or preventative
• Normally begins in childhood, symptoms are developed quickly

Question 2

Type 2 diabetes

Answer 2

• People affected cannot effectively use insulin and control their blood sugar level - this is either because the beta cells don’t produce enough insulin or the body cells don’t respond properly to it (often because the glycoprotein insulin receptor on the cell membrane doesn’t work properly - cells lose responsiveness to insulin and don’t take up enough glucose, leaving it in the bloodstream)
• Largely a result of excess body weight, physical inactivity, and habitual, excessive overeating of (refined) carbohydrates
• Symptoms are less severe than type 1 and develop more slowly - therefore, risk increases with age (usually seen in adults over the age of 40)

Question 3

Type 1 diabetes treatment

Answer 3

• Controlled by regular injection of insulin (glycogenesis occurs - reduction in blood glucose concentration)
• Regular blood glucose concentration tests - finger is pricked, drop of blood is analysed by a machine and the concentration is generated - can work out dose of insulin needed to inject (if too much is injected, hyperglycaemia is experienced)

Question 4

Type 2 diabetes treatment

Answer 4

• Regulate the person’s carbon intake through their diet and match it with their exercise levels
• In cases where exercise and diet aren’t enough to control blood glucose concentration, drugs have to be used which: stimulate insulin production from the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans, slow down the rate at which the body absorbs glucose from the intestine, and insulin injections in general

Question 5

Medically produced insulin

Answer 5

• Originally, it was obtained from the pancreas of cows and pigs - this was expensive and could possibly cause allergic reactions due to differences to human insulin, as its produced in a ‘pure’ form
• It is now made by genetically modified bacteria - can be produced in higher quantities, cheaper, less conflict caused due to ethical views and religion