Pancreas, Insulin & Diabetes 101

This article discusses diabetes. However, to build a knowledge base from which to understand the dysfunction, this article will first discuss the pancreatic system and its elements.

pancreas insulin diabetes
















Insulin

Your body gets energy when it absorbs sugar (glucose) from carbohydrates. Although glucose is readily available in the blood, insulin acts like a key to release the glucose for the body's use. It is the hormone that allows your body to either use or store sugar. 

It is 'smart' in that it regulates your blood sugar level by preventing it from being too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia)


Pancreas

The pancreas is a gland organ in the abdomen. Being part of the digestive system, it produces and secretes insulin (among other things) into the small intestines. 


Process of Sugar Absorption

Before sugar reaches the pancreatic system, the body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose which passes from the small intestines to the blood stream (a vehicular of sorts that transports it to the pancreas). 

The glucose present in the bloodstream prompts the pancreas (specifically 'beta cells' in the pancreas) to secrete insulin into the bloodstream to keep the sugar level within a healthy range. 

For this regulation process to work; cells throughout the body attract the circulating insulin and absorb the glucose (to get energy). It is useful to liken insulin to a key that unlocks the glucose.


Comparisons & Quick Contrasts Between Types 1 and 2 Diabetes
They 2 types of diabetes have several commonalities. For instance, both forms of diabetes are chronic diseases that does not regulate blood sugar levels and share contributing factors like genetic predisposition.

Additionally, if uncontrolled, both types of diabetes share similar symptoms as the following.

  • Excessive hunger
  • Excessive thirst
  • Frequent urination
  • Inexplicable weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Weakness
  • Blurred vision
  • Difficulty for cuts and sores to heal
There is a higher incidence of diabetes among minority groups. For instance, this is most notably the case among black, Native American and Hispanic people in the United States.

As discussed in greater detail below, people with type 1 diabetes do not produce (enough) insulin. Essentially, they do not have the '(insulin) key'. Conversely, while those with type 2 diabetes have the (insulin) key, their 'key' is broken. Specifically, their bodies are resistant, ie the cells are still unable to use insulin (creating a situation that resembles type 1 in which there is no or insufficient insulin).


Type 2 diabetes is roughly 9 times more common than type 1.



Type 1 Diabetes
In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas produces little or no insulin. Consequently, with insufficient insulin in the blood, the blood sugar level is too high (hyperglycemia). Specifically, the abovementioned beta cells are mistakenly attacked as foreign bodies by the white blood cells. Essentially, the immune system is compromised (since the white blood cells work to safeguard the body's immunity).

Ultimately, the cells feel starved for calories they should be otherwise receiving from glucose. Some differences in symptoms include the fact that people with type 1 diabetes suffer from the following.


  • Irritability
  • Mood changes
Symptoms develop quickly, often within several weeks.

If hyperglycemia remains untreated (through insulin therapy) and since the body simply can not access energy from the circulating glucose, the body will seek energy from alternative sources like fat cells. Over the long term, the effect includes the following.






Type 2 Diabetes


People with type 2 diabetes produce insulin but can not use it effectively. 

In addition to contributing factors common between both types of diabetes, those more uniquely associated with type 2 diabetes include the following.
  • Overweight
  • a lot of belly fat
  • Inactivity
  • Prediabetes (ie a slightly evelated level of blood sugar)
  • gestational diabetes (ie diabetes during pregnancy)
  • delivery of a baby that weighted over 9 pounds
  • polycystic ovarian syndrom
Although the body initially attempts to compensate by overproducing insulin, this occurs to no avail and hyperglycemia occurs regardless.

Additionally, unlike type 1 diabetes, people suffering from type 2 diabetes may not have symptoms for several years. The symptoms develop slowly over time. Unfortunately, they may discover the disease only when complications develop.


However, a noteworthy difference is that, unlike type 1 diabetes (which is unpreventable for those predisposed to it), type 2 diabetes may be prevented and, in some cases, even reversed with the following livestyle choices.

  • Avoidance of overweight
  • Physical activity
  • A balanced diet, especially one that minimizes sugary and overly processed foods


Testing for Diabetes

The primary test for both types 1 and 2 of diabetes is the glycated hemoglobin (A1C) test. This involves drawing blood, usually with a small finger prick. The higher the blood sugar level, the greater the A1C level. A1C levels 6.5 and over indicate diabetes. 


CONTENT RELATED TO THE PANCREAS, INSULIN AND DIABETES.

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