The Common Risk Factors Of Diabetes - 1967 Words

Diabetes mellitus is a disease which involves the increase in the level of glucose in the blood. Hormone responsible for lowering the blood glucose is insulin, produced by the beta cells in pancreas. Insulin helps the glucose to enter the body tissues where it is used for energy production. Type 1 diabetes, common in children and young adults, occurs due to the low amount of insulin production by damaged beta cells. Type 2 diabetes, common in middle aged adult, occurs due to the inability of the body cells to identify insulin. Diabetes results in many complications of the organs due to low glucose supply and in turn low energy production. Some organs include heart, kidneys, eye, brain, nerves etc. The common risk factors of diabetes are†¦show more content†¦Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease which is characterized by, hyperglycemia, the increase in the blood glucose level. Glucose is an important source of energy for the body cells but its level should be controlled in the blood. When the glucose concentration increases in the blood (for example after eating a meal) then it stimulates pancreas to release a hormone called insulin. Insulin is made and secreted by the beta cells, located in clusters called pancreatic islets, of the pancreas. After releasing in the blood stream Insulin binds to their receptors on different body tissues and organs which allow the glucose to enter inside them. Inside the tissues glucose is used for different purposes such as energy production by cellular respiration, converted into glycogen or converted into fat and then stored. When the insulin does not produce at all, does not produce in sufficient amount (hyposecretion) or body tissues do not respond to insulin then the glucose level in the blood re mains high at all times. Such condition can be defined as diabetes mellitus or diabetes (Cartailler, n.d.). There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, also called insulin dependent, is an autoimmune condition in which the beta cells of pancreas are destroyed by the immune system which results in the