Risk Factors Associated with Diabetes

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Diabetes What is diabetes? Diabetes is a disease associated with the inability to store and metabolise glucose effectively. In the UK alone there are just under 3 million people diagnosed with diabetes and approximately 850,000 who are not aware that they have it. (Nhs.uk, 2014) Because the transporters for glucose to be stored and metabolised are Insulin dependent in most areas of the body (except the Blood Brain Barrier), an absence or deficiency in Insulin results in Increased levels of glucose in the blood. Diabetes is diagnosed when the blood glucose level of a normal healthy individual is above 11.1mmol/l and in a fasting state above 7mmol/l. Diabetes can occur because of two factors: Due to the inability to produce Insulin from the Pancreatic Beta cells located in the Islet of Langerhans. This occurs because the Body’s Immune system identifies the Beta cells as “foreign” material. B lymphocytes synthesise antibodies specific to the Beta cell and these cause more B and T lymphocytes to travel to the Islets. T cells are also involved and secrete chemical messengers called cytokines which allow communication between the immune cells to co-ordinate the attack. Cytokines advocate the necrosis of Beta cells and, and this leads to a larger production of Immunoglobins targeting specifically the Insulin within them. This causes the Beta cells to swell up also known as “Insulitis”, and is the early stages of Diabetes. Most people don’t realise they are developing diabetes because symptoms apparent for several years, and by this time over 90% of their Beta cells are destroyed and are unable to be restored. This is referred to as “Insulin Dependent Diabetes” and occurs in the early stages of life usually between the ages of 5 and 20... ... middle of paper ... ...ng - Diabetes UK. [online] Available at: http://www.diabetes.org.uk/Guide-to-diabetes/Monitoring/Testing/ [Accessed 21 May. 2014]. Articles Mozo, V. (2010). How High Sugar Level in Blood Damages the Blood Vessels - Biology Online. [online] Biology-online.org. Available at: http://www.biology-online.org/articles/high-sugar-level-blood-damages.html [Accessed 22 May. 2014]. House, P. (n.d.). Top 10 Foods Highest in Carbohydrates (To Limit or Avoid). [online] Healthaliciousness.com. Available at: http://www.healthaliciousness.com/articles/foods-highest-in-carbohydrates.php [Accessed 20 May. 2014]. Books Katzen, H. and Mahler, R. (1977). Diabetes, obesity, and vascular disease. 1st ed. Washington: Hemisphere Pub. Corp. ; New York : distributed by Halsted Press, p.637. Gan, D. (2003). Diabetes atlas. 1st ed. Brussels: International Diabetes Federation, p.73.

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