Types of diabetes and treatments
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Explainer Video
Summary
Types of diabetes and treatments
In a nutshell
Diabetes is an illness defined by an inability to reduce high blood glucose concentration. There are two types of diabetes type and type . Type and have different treatment options which help control blood glucose concentration.
cells
cells are found in the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. They contain vesicles that store insulin which is secreted into the blood stream when blood glucose concentration is too high.
| 1. | When blood glucose (green hexagon) concentration rises, glucose moves into the cells through facilitated diffusion. |
| 2. | This stimulates a higher level of respiration in the cells, producing more ATP. |
| 3. | High ATP concentrations in the cells means potassium ions can no longer move out of the cell. |
| 4. | High concentrations of potassium ions in the cell creates a more positive environment inside of the cell. The cell membrane is now depolarised. |
| 5. | Depolarisation triggers the opening of calcium ion channels and influx of calcium ions into the cell. |
| 6. | The calcium ions in the cell induce the exocytosis of insulin vesicles meaning insulin is secreted into the blood stream. |
Type
Type diabetes is an autoimmune disease. The immune cells attack cells in the islets of Langerhans preventing them from releasing insulin. After eating, the blood glucose concentration of a person suffering from type diabetes rises and cannot be reduced because insulin is not produced.
A chronically high blood glucose concentration or hyperglycaemia can lead to death. Some of the glucose in the blood can be removed by the kidneys into the urine, however, this is not enough to bring the blood glucose concentration to the base level of per .
Treatments
Treatment | description |
| Insulin therapy | Regular injections of insulin allow blood glucose concentration to be controlled. Some patients receive an insulin pump which is a device that constantly delivers insulin into the blood stream through a tube. |
| Islet cell transplantation | Healthy cells from a donor are transplanted into a person suffering from type diabetes. This means the pancreas can naturally release insulin. However, patients often need smaller injections of insulin to properly control blood glucose concentration. |
| Blood glucose concentration control | Every person suffering from type diabetes must monitor their blood glucose concentration. A balanced and heathy diet with controlled glucose intake is beneficial because it reduces the amount of insulin that needs to be injected. Furthermore, regular exercise uses up glucose in the blood which also reduces the amount of insulin that needs to be injected. |
Type
Type diabetes is an acquired disease where cells do not release enough insulin or where cells are insensitive to insulin. The insulin receptors on the cell membrane do not work properly and are described as being insensitive to insulin. Both of these malfunctions lead to an inability to control blood glucose concentration, so it remains high.
Type diabetes is often linked with obesity. Certain ethnic groups have a predisposed genetic makeup which increases their risk of developing type diabetes.
Treatments
Treatment | description |
| Lifestyle changes | Changing to a healthy diet and lifestyle can prevent the development of type diabetes and additionally can help control the effects of the illness. |
| Metformin | Metformin is a medication that increases cell sensitivity to insulin, increasing the amount of glucose taken into cells. Metformin also induces changes in liver cells which reduces the amount of glucose they release controlling blood glucose concentration. |
| Sulfonylureas | Sulfonylureas are medications that induce changes in the pancreas causing it to release more insulin meaning blood glucose concentration is controlled. |
| Thiazolidinediones | Thiazolidinediones are medications that induce changes in insulin receptors that make the cells more sensitive to insulin. This allows more glucose to be taken into cells which increases control over blood glucose concentration. |
| Insulin therapy | If medications are not effective at controlling blood glucose concentration in a person suffering from type diabetes, then insulin therapy is utilised to control blood glucose concentration. |
Genetically modified bacteria
Bacteria can be genetically modified to produce insulin. Insulin was previously taken from pig pancreases. However, this induced an immune response following injection into the blood stream.
Production of insulin with bacteria makes "human insulin" that does not generate an immune response. Additionally, modified bacteria can produce a far greater amount of insulin when compared to pigs.
Stem cells
Stem cells can be genetically programmed to differentiate into cells. The generated cells can now be implanted into the islets of Langerhans of a person suffering from type diabetes. Following the implantation the patient now has fully functioning cells.
FAQs - Frequently Asked Questions
How do sulfonylureas help control blood glucose concentration?
Sulfonylureas induce changes in the pancreas causing them to release more insulin meaning blood glucose concentration is controlled.
How can bacteria be used to produced insulin?
Bacteria can be genetically modified to produce insulin.
How do islet of Langerhans cell transplants help patients suffering from type 1 diabetes?
Islets of Langerhans cell transplants transplant healthy β cells from a donor. This means the pancreas can naturally release insulin.