Diabetes reviews

Diabetes ( Health)
The two major forms of diabetes are type 1 (previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes) and type 2 (previously called noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or maturity-onset diabetes). They share a central feature: elevated blood sugar levels due to absolute or relative insufficiencies of insulin.
Insulin is a key regulator of the body's metabolism. After meals, food is digested in the stomach and intestines; carbohydrates are broken down into sugar molecules, of which glucose is one, and proteins are broken down into amino acids. Glucose and amino acids are absorbed directly into the bloodstream, and blood glucose levels rise. Normally, the rise in blood glucose levels signals the islet cells in the pancreas to secrete insulin into the bloodstream. Insulin, in turn, enables glucose and amino acids to enter cells in the body - especially those in the muscles - where, along with other hormones, it directs whether these nutrients will be burned for energy or stored for future use. As blood sugar falls to pre-meal levels, the pancreas reduces the production of insulin, and the body uses its stored energy until the next meal provides additional nutrients.
In type 1 diabetes, the insulin-producing cells are gradually destroyed; eventually insulin deficiency is absolute. Without insulin to move glucose into the cells, blood sugar levels become excessively high, a condition known as hyperglycemia. The presence of hyperglycemia is associated with the development of infections, degenerative artery disease, kidney disease, eye disease, and damage to nerves in the limbs. Because the body cannot utilize the sugar, it spills over into the urine and is lost.
Type 2 diabetes is by far the more common diabetes. Although termed 'maturity-onset diabetes', there are signs that type 2 diabetes is being diagnosed more often today in relatively young adults, probably due to sedentary lifestyles and 'fast-food' eating habits. Most type 2 diabetics appear to produce variable, even normal, amounts of insulin, but have abnormalities in liver and muscle cells that resist its action. Insulin attaches to the receptors of cells, but glucose does not get inside, a condition known as insulin resistance. Because many type 2 diabetics seem to be incapable of secreting enough insulin to overcome this resistance, however, it is likely that in such cases there is an additional defect in insulin secretion by the islet cells. While many patients can control type 2 diabetes with diet or with medications that stimulate the pancreas to release insulin, commonly the condition worsens and may eventually require insulin administration. topic: "consumer health information and the internet", "health information management consultant employment", "information on the richmond fellowship mental health", "health information management jobs in las vegas"