Molecular aspects of diabetes

Question 1

how does diabetes type I evolve?

Answer 1

genetic predisposition - external triggers - auto-immune reaction - beta cell damage - clinical diabetes (not enough insulin produced)

Question 2

how does diabetes type II evolve?

Answer 2

insuline resistance (enough insulin, but receptor does not react to it)

Question 3

describe insulin on a molecular level!

Answer 3

chain A and B, connected by S-S bridges, c-chain

Question 4

what different types of insulin are there?

Answer 4

rapid acting, short acting, intermediate acting, long acting

Question 5

how are the islets of Langerhans composed?

Answer 5

beta-cells (70%) insulin secretion, alpha cells (20%) glucagon secretion, delta-cell (5%) somatostatin secretion

Question 6

the incretin effect

Answer 6

insulin level rises much higher with oral glucose uptake than with isoglycemic glucose infusion under similar glucose levels, in type 2 diabetes, this effect is much lower

Question 7

why is a high glucose level toxic?

Answer 7

leads to nephropathy, retinopathy,. neuropathy, beta-cell damage, hepatic/sceletal muscle insuline resistance, cardiovascular disease

Question 8

what are recent advances in diabetes treatments?

Answer 8

gastric bypass, biliopancreatic bypass, transplant of Islet of Langerhans cells