Trying to understand diabetes mellitus type 1.Causes and why it is important,in a simplified way.

[patliputra]

Diabetes is disease in which body does not make any insulin, or enough insulin or is not able to use insulin effectively or both.Insulin is produced in the body by an organ called pancreas.Pancreas has clusters of cells scattered though out it called islet of Langerhans.These contain cells called Beta cells.These cells produce insulin, a hormone, in response to glucose in blood.Glucose is another name for sugar.When glucose level goes above a certain level and remains persistently elevated, ( hyperglycaemia ),it is known as Diabetes.

There are several types of diabetes but two are main,diabetes type 1 and diabetes type 2.There is another type called Gestational diabetes which occurs during pregnancy.There are also other types of diabetes which will not be discussed here.

Type 1 diabetes,also known as juvenile or insulin dependent diabetes is caused by lack of insulin due to lack of insulin.No insulin or very little insulin is produced as insulin producing beta cells in pancreas are destroyed.Why this happens it not clearly understood but there are certain theories which tries to explain this .

(1) Autoimmune disease -there is is a defence mechanism working in the body ,our immune system,which normally protects body from infections by identifying and destroying bacteria, viruses and other potentially harmful foreign substances.But in autoimmune disease the immune system attacks bodys own cells,in this case beta cells of pancreas and destroying it completely.How it first starts and why is not understood completely.

(2)Viruses -several including mumps virus have been implicated.Rsearchers say that viruses have protein on them.These proteins are identifies as foreign body by our immune system and attacked,the process is extended to beta cells which are also destroyed.

(3)in susceptible persons ie.persons prone to develop diabetes insulin also acts as feign body inviting our own immune system to destroy it.

(4) Environmental Factors -allergy to cows milk in early infancy,vit.D insufficiency,gluten of cereals etc are all implicated.

researches are going on and nothing is conclusive.

Beta cell destruction may take place over several years, but symptoms of disease usually appear over a short period. Type 1 typically occurs in children and young adults.

Its importance lies in the fact that there is a spurt in incidence of type 1 worldwide.

[patliputra]

Please go to sciencedaily.com/release/20....

[patliputra]

Please also visit

diapedia.org/type-1-diabete...

[patliputra]

If you like to study about rise in incidence in exhaustive detail, follow the site

Diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/content/51/12/3353.full

[patliputra]

Incidence under 5ys of age is rapidly increasing with a doubling time less than 20 yrs.It has been suggested that the rising incidence of childhood diabetes might represent a left shift in the age of onset rather than an absolute increase in the life time risk of disease within a population.Consistence with this, there is some evidence that the increase in the 0-14 yrs. old age group has been partially compensated by a decrease in young adults,so that the cumulative incidence by age 30 yrs. remains unchanged.

[sivagovind]

very very informative....thanks to all.......best wishes

[patliputra]

In US breast feeding came down to 24% in 60-70 's after Women's lib. Movement picked up to 60% in 80-90's.But in India situation is much much better.

Profitability has creeped in all walks of life,which I call Capitalist economy.So why single out and point finger towards one.

Forceps delivery is an art forgotten by most of the professionals.But to perform it needs certain degree of expertise,that also after a few pre conditions are full filled.

It is changing dietary pattern,promoted by capitalist economy,that more responsible than the food itself .Our distorted thinking to look to WEST and try to copy it.As a matter of fact we have adopted bad habits of west ,ignoring the good things.

So who is to pay price? Luckily type1diabetes is not rising or rising very slowly compared to west,in Asians and more so in Indian population.

[goalmal]

quite informative for nonmedicos

[patliputra in reply to goalmal]

Old saying that knowledge is power is never out dated.If you have understanding of a disease you are much better placed to manage it.

[patliputra]

Concerned was just teasing me.He is very knowledgable .

[goalmal]

yah I m a qualified dr.still I appreciate the way u described the facts about diabetes

[patliputra in reply to goalmal]

Thanx so much for appreciating.