5.4.5 diabetes

condition where blood glucose concentrations cannot be controlled effectively

unspecialised cells which have potential to develop into any type of cell

hypoglycaemia or hyperglycaemia

(insulin-dependent diabetes) - usually starts in childhood - result of autoimmune response where body’s immune system attacks/destroys beta cells - may also result from viral attack - cannot synthesise sufficient insulin or store excess glucose as glycogen

(non-insulin-dependent diabetes) - produces insulin but not enough - as people age, responsiveness to insulin declines - blood glucose concentration almost permanently raised = damage major organs & circulation

• obesity • lack of regular exercise • high sugar diet (esp. refined sugars) • being of asian/afro-carribean descent • family history

• insulin injections • insulin pump therapy • islet cell transplant • pancreas transplant • stem cells to grow new islets of Langerhans in pancreas

small device constantly pumps insulin (controlled rate) into bloodstream via needle inserted permanently under skin

healthy beta cells from pancreas of deceased doner implanted into pancreas

• bone marrow • placenta • recent research shows precursor cells from in pancreas of adult mice

• lifestyle changes eg. lose weight, regular exercise, monitor diet • monitor carbohydrate intake —> may be supplemented by medication which reduces amount of glucose the liver releases/boosts amount if insulin released from pancreas • severe cases: insulin injections & other drugs which slow absorption of glucose from digestive system

• historically = extracted from pancreas of animals eg pigs, sheep • recently = produced by E.coli bacteria which have undergone genetic modification to manufacture human insulin

• exact copy of human insulin thus, acts faster & more effective • less chance of developing tolerance to insulin • less chance of rejection due to immune response • lower risk of infection • cheaper to manufacture insulin than to extract from animals • manufacturing process is more adaptable to demand • some people less likely to have moral objections to insulin produced from bacteria than using that extracted from animals