Diabetes Mellitus

Question 1

What is Diabetes mellitus?

Answer 1

• A group of conditions
• Caused by a problem the the secretion or action of insulin
• Results in high levels of blood glucose (hyperglycaemia)

Question 2

What are the two types of diabetes?

Answer 2

• Type 1
• Type 2

Question 3

What is type 1 diabetes caused by?

Answer 3

• An auto immune response which destroys the beta cells in the islets of langerhans

Question 4

What is type II diabetes caused by?

Answer 4

• Not enough insulin is produced by the pancreas
• Insulin resistance where the insulin doesn’t work properly (body fat blocks insulin from unlocking cells)

Question 5

What cells are in the pancreas?

Answer 5

• Alpha Cells
• Beta Cells
• Delta Cells
• F Cells

Question 6

What is the role of alpha cells?

Answer 6

The secrete glucagon which causes the breakdown of gycogen into glucose to raise the blood glucose level

Question 7

What is the role of beta cells?

Answer 7

They produce insulin which causes the uptake of glusise into body cells

Question 8

What is the role of delta cells?

Answer 8

They make somatostatin and gastrin - regulates the alpha and beta cells

Question 9

Talk through this diagram:

Answer 9

• glucose comes from the digestion of starchy foods such as bread pasta etc
• The glucose is absorbed into the blood stream
• However the beta cells in the pancreas have been destroyed so no insulin is produced
• The glucose is therefore unable to enter the cells
• So can’t be used in respiration

Question 10

Talk through this diagram:

Answer 10

• glucose comes from the digestion of starchy foods such as bread pasta etc
• The glucose is absorbed into the blood stream
• The body doesn’t produce enough insulin
• There aren’t sufficient messages to the cells to open the glucose channels
• So less glucose can enter the cells
• So theres less to be used in respiration

Question 11

Talk through this diagram:

Answer 11

• glucose comes from the digestion of starchy foods such as bread pasta etc
• The glucose is absorbed into the blood stream
• Extra fat in the body stops the messages from insulin to open the glucose channels getting through
• So less glucose can be absorbed
• So less to be used in respiration

Question 12

How is type 1 diabetes treated?

Answer 12

• With insulin injections

Question 13

How is type 2 diabetes treated?

Answer 13

• Healthy diet and physical activity only
• Healthy diet physical activity and tablets
• Healthy diet physical activity and insulin injections

Question 14

Does type 1 or type 2 diabetes generally effect people over 40?

Answer 14

Type 2 - Type 1 usually effects people younger i.e. <40

Question 15

Name the main symptoms of diabetes

Answer 15

• Polydipsia - excessive thirst
• Polyuria - large volumes of weak urine output
• Polyphagia - hunger

Question 16

Name the macrovascular complications of diabetes

Answer 16

• Atherosclerosis
• Myocardial infaction
• Cerebrovascular accident

Question 17

Name the 3 main microvascular complications of diabetes

Answer 17

1. Diabetic Retinopathy - obstruction and rupture of retinal caplilaries leading to poor sight and blindness
2. Periperal Neuropathy - obstruction and rupture of blood vessels supplying nerves which causes decreased and altered sensation
3. Diabetic nephropathy - demange to blood vessels in the kidneys cuases high pressure in the kidneys and damage leading to kidney failure

Question 18

generally what causes microvasular complications?

Answer 18

• excess blood glucose leads to capillary damage
• leads to loss of funtion of the tissues supplied by these small blood vessels