Diabetes occurs when the body can’t use glucose properly either owing to a lack of the hormone insulin or because the insulin available doesn’t work properly. The full name diabetes mellitus is derived from the Greek word diabetes meaning siphon – to pass through – and mellitus, the Latin for honeyed or sweet. This is because not only is excess sugar found in the blood, but it may also appear in the urine, hence it being known in the 17th century as the ‘Pissing evil’.
According to the charity Diabetes UK, more than two million people in the UK have the condition and up to 750,000 more are believed to have it without knowing that they do. More than three-quarters of people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes mellitus. This used to be known as non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or maturity-onset diabetes mellitus. The number of people with type 2 diabetes is rapidly increasing as it is common in the overweight and obese, which is itself a growing problem.
The remainder have type 1 diabetes mellitus, which used to be known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus.
There two types of diabetes
- Type 1 diabetes
- Type 2 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes the body is unable to produce any insulin it usually starts in childhood or young adult and is treated with diet control and insulin.
Type 2 diabetes the body does not produce enough or insulin that is made by the body doesn’t work properly. It tends to affect people as they get older and usually appear after the age of 40 but it is now seen on increase in younger overweight people.
Causes of diabetes
The amount of sugar in the blood is usually controlled by a hormone called insulin, which is produced by the pancreas (a gland behind the stomach).
When food is digested and enters the bloodstream, insulin moves glucose out of the blood and into cells, where it is broken down to produce energy.
However, if someone has diabetes, the body is unable to break down glucose into energy. This is because there is either not enough insulin to move the glucose, or the insulin produced does not work properly.
Symptoms of diabetes
The main symptoms of diabetes are:
- Feeling very thirsty .
- Urinating frequently, particularly at night.
- Feeling very tired.
- Weight loss and loss of muscle bulk.
People who diabetes affected most are
- People over 40, or over 25 and African-Caribbean, Asian or from a minority ethnic group.
- People with a close family member who has type 2 diabetes.
- People who are overweight or who have a large waist size.
- Women with polycystic ovary syndrome who are overweight.
- Women who’ve had diabetes in pregnancy (gestational diabetes).
DIAGNOSIS- Glucose levels are measured in blood samples. This is done using the following tests:
- Random glucose test: glucose levels are taken at a random time on two occasions. Any figure above 11.1mmol/l is a diagnosis of diabetes
- Fasting glucose test: the glucose level is measured after an overnight fast and on two different days. Above 7.0mmol/l is a diagnosis of diabetes. You may only need to give one blood sample if you have other symptoms of diabetes.
TREATMENT FOR DIABETES
- Type 1 diabetes treatment is a daily task. Lack of insulin production by the pancreas makes type 1 diabetes particularly difficult to control. Treatment requires a strict regimen that includes a carefully calculated diet, planned physical activity, multiple daily insulin injections and home blood glucose testing a number of times per day.
- Treatment for type 2 diabetes includes diet control, exercise, home blood glucose testing, and in some cases, oral medication and or insulin.
THE FUTURE DEVELOPMENT FOR DIABETES–There are over hundreds of Diabetes UK-funded researchers that are engaged in projects committed to improve the care and treatment of diabetes, preventing it from developing in those that are at risk and ultimately finding a cure. From the 2006–2010 Research Strategy, Diabetes UK have spent £29,465,611 on research to improve the lives of people with diabetes and work towards a future without diabetes and introduced several new initiatives to support the UK’s best researchers.
Diabetes UK is currently funding two ground-breaking research projects at University of Cambridge which aim to develop and test an artificial pancreas device for use in adults with Type 1 diabetes and pregnant woman with type1 diabetes. The artificial pancreas is a system that measures blood glucose levels on a minute-to-minute basis using a continuous glucose monitor (CGM) and transmits the information to an insulin pump that calculates and releases the required amount of insulin into the body.
This system which is worn like an insulin pump is called the ‘artificial pancreas’ because it monitors and adjusts insulin levels just like the pancreas does in people without diabetes.
The possible outcome so far is the device has the potential to transform lives, particularly for those who find it difficult to maintain good blood glucose control. By levelling out the peaks and lowest in blood glucose levels, the artificial pancreas will help to avoid raised glucose levels, which over time contribute to the development of complications, and low glucose levels, or ‘hypos’, which can be distressing and, in some cases, can lead to a coma or death.
The first study so far is they monitored 12 participants overnight after consuming a medium-sized meal (60g carbohydrate) at 7pm. In the second study, the other 12 participants were monitored overnight after consuming a larger meal (100g carbohydrate) accompanied by alcohol at 8.30pm.
The studies showed a 22 per cent improvement in the time participants kept their blood glucose levels in a safe range, halving the time they spent with low blood glucose levels and reducing the risk of both short-term and long-term complications.
Dr Roman Hovorka said: “Hypoglycaemia remains a major challenge, especially during the night, so it’s encouraging to see such promising results from our trial using commercially available devices. This research is still on going for the home use devices.
BIBLIOGRAPHY AND REFERENCES
http://www.nhs.uk/Search/Pages/Results.aspx?q=diabetes Accessed on March 2022
http://www.bbc.co.uk /health /physical health/conditions/ depth/diabetes/about diabetes what.shtml Accessed on March 2022
http://www.diabetes.org.uk /Guide-to-diabetes/Treatments/Medication/Different-types-of-diabetes-medication/ Research/the artificial pancreas Accessed on March 2022
http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/diseases/facts/diabetes.htm accessed on March 2022
