Type 1 Diabetes Essay

Submitted By aibrahim9423
Words: 4183
Pages: 17
Open Document
Amr Ibrahim
998711354
Type I Diabetes

Type I Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease, characterized by the destruction of β-cells from the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. The destruction leads to decreased or no production of insulin leading to elevated levels of glucose in the blood known as hyperglycemia. This leads to instant symptoms such as weight loss, polyuria and polydipsia. Other chronic symptoms may occur in the long run such as vascular diseases and degenerative diseases such as neuropathy and nephropathy. Although T1DM is one of the most common existing autoimmune diseases, affecting 20 million people globally[5], it only accounts for 5-10% of all diabetic cases.[4] T1DM was not considered as an autoimmune disease until the discovery of pancreatic inflammation of islets as an indicator in 1965.[2] Treatments for this disease have been under research for years, with advances being made along with improvements in the understanding of the disease. This essay will outline the genetic and environmental factors that cause this disease and its epidemiology, along with a description of its pathogenesis, experimental models, involvement in the immune system, current or possible treatments and methods of prevention. T1DM was thought to be presented in a sudden manner in children and during early adulthood, however, recent data shows that only 50-60% of T1DM cases present themselves those younger than 16-18 years, with a low incidence in adulthood. This is due to a highly variable period that is asymptomatic, where glucose metabolism is normal or very slightly disturbed, and it can range from a few months in infants to more than 10 years.[6] Although the department of health has stated that the most frequent age of diagnosis is 10-14 years, the disease, according to data collected from Sweden, has recently shifted towards a younger age of manifestation. The data showed that the overall incidence of diabetes didn’t change, but the age at which incidence was most common had dropped. This suggests an increase in aggressive β-cell destruction, which could be associated with increased exposure to environmental factors or it could be correlated with the increasing weight of the population.[3] [6] These factors could also be a contributor to the rising incidence of T1DM worldwide, which is approximately 2-5% per year. The incidence of T1DM varies in different geographical locations, with countries such as China showing the lowest rates at 0.57 cases per 100,000 under-18 year olds per year, while other countries, such as the United Kingdom, have shown rates that are 30 times higher. Finland and Sardinia, Italy have shown the highest rates, which have been reported to be 100-fold higher than those reported in China. Also, migrating populations tend to adopt the new incidence rates of that country. An example would be a study conducted on children of Asian backgrounds living in the UK, which showed that they exhibited incidence rates that were closer to those shown by long time residents of the UK compared to rates in Asia. This again suggests the effect of environmental factors on incidence rates of T1DM.[3] There are three distinct reasons that have been observed which confirm the presence of environmental factors affecting the incidence of T1DM. The first is that monozygotic twins are not always both afflicted with diabetes, although they are genetically identical. In fact, only 13-33% are both concurrent for the disease. The second reason is that the worldwide rising rates of incidence are too rapid to be caused by genetic changes within populations. Although high risk HLA genotype proportions have decreased while low risk ones have increased, there is still a significant rise in the incidence of T1DM, suggesting environmental pressures are acting on the disease. The third, as previously mentioned, is that immigrants’ risk of incidence will shift towards their new country in as little as one generation. [4]
Show More

Related Documents: Type 1 Diabetes Essay

Type 1 Diabetes Evolution

discoveries of treatments. One of the diseases that the evolution helped getting a cure for is diabetes. Diabetes is a long-life syndrome which affects the ability of controlling the amount of sugar levels in the blood (1). Diabetes can be divided into two main types, type 1 diabetes…

Words 839 - Pages 4

Causes Of Type 1 Diabetes

The cause of Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone that controls the amount of glucose in the blood. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system (the body's natural defence against infection and illness) mistakes the cells as harmful and destroys and kills the cells in the pancreas to stop producing insulin. It is uncertain why the immune system does this but some researchers suggested that it may be due to a viral infection…

Words 339 - Pages 2

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Chelsea M. Witek Palomar College Author Note This paper was prepared for N117 taught by Instructors Pince and Van Houten. The Etiology, Manifestations, and Management of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is a disease involving poor regulation of glucose by the body and requires continuous management by the patient and/or healthcare team to keep it under control (Ignatavicius & Workman, 2016, p. 1300). There are two classifications of Diabetes Mellitus:…

Words 1007 - Pages 5

Type 1 Diabetes Report

a human cell, the malfunction of an organelle that makes lipids which is called the Smooth endoplasmic reticulum is the cause of type 1 diabetes…. (Anon., n.d.) (Anon., 2014) This report will be about the understanding of type 1 diabetes and the symptoms of the disease and explanation of the malfunctioning cells that cause this disease and how can be treated. Diabetes is a long life effecting cause of a condition that the person’s blood sugar level which is known as the glucose gets too high. There…

Words 959 - Pages 4

Type 1 Diabetes Type 2 Essay

million people have diabetes, which is associated with being overweight and obese and another 79 million people have pre-diabetes (lecture 10). Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition where the immune system attacks the pancreatic cells that produce insulin, causing little to no insulin production (medicalnewstoday.com). Type 1 diabetes often begins in early childhood, which is why it is very common in young children and teenagers. Type 2 diabetes is known as adult onset diabetes, but also commonly…

Words 529 - Pages 3

Type 1 Diabetes Research Paper

Diabetes affects a large percentage of the population, especially in the southern part of America. “Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from defects in insulin secretion, insulin action, or both” Huether & McCance (2017). There are four classification of diabetes, which are type 1, type 2, gestational, and other specific types. Type 1 diabetes is common in children. It can be either idiopathic or autoimmune. Idiopathic type 1 is caused by…

Words 872 - Pages 4

Type 1 Diabetes Research Paper

examples, type 1 and 2 diabetes, gestational diabetes, and prediabetes. The carbohydrates will break down into glucose to carries out through the bloodstream to other organs. The diabetes type 1 and 2 are different, explaining how diet and nutrition affect diabetics and what role does carbohydrates has. Type 1 diabetes was caused by the damaged of the beta pancreas that only to be a mistake. So less glucose is taken into the cells, while the rest of the glucose stayed in the blood. Type 1 diabetes is…

Words 542 - Pages 3

Hannah's Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

Hannah’s Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus Debra Baum HS 200-04 Unit 4 Capstone Project: Diabetes Kaplan University January 7, 2014 Diabetes Mellitus usually occurs in children. It is a chronic metabolic disorder. It is caused when your body’s immune system starts attacking the insulin in your pancreas. A lack of insulin in the blood there is not enough glucose in the cells of the body. Most kids need to take insulin to control their diabetes. Insulin is essential to process…

Words 556 - Pages 3

Type 2 Diabetes Type 1 Research Paper

Diabetes type 1 may occur at any age; however, it’s more common in children, adolescents and young adults below the age of 40 years. What is type 1 diabetes? It is a chronic ailment in which there is a high blood glucose level because the body is unable to produce insulin. It is also known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes. Insulin hormone is produced by the beta cells located in the pancreas. Insulin is important to move blood glucose levels into the cells. Excess sugars are stored…

Words 611 - Pages 3

Type 2 Diabetes Type 1 Research Paper

Diabetes Mellitus is a disorder in which glucose (blood sugar) levels are high due to the body’s inability to not produce enough insulin. Diabetes damages blood vessels, heart, nerves, eyes, kidneys, and increases the risk of stroke, kidney failure, and heart attack. People that are diagnosed with diabetes have an increase in urination and thirst, and lose weight when they are not trying to. In type 1 diabetes, which is known as insulin dependency, the symptoms will usually begin suddenly while…

Words 1222 - Pages 5