Course project - powerpoint diabetes

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DIABETES

Diabetes

Johnathon Hakola

Rasmussen College

04/24/2015

There are two types of diabetes, which are caused by different factors. Type 1 diabetes is as a result of the interaction of environmental and genetic factors. Some environmental factors particularly certain viruses have a significant role to play when it comes to the development of type 1 diabetes. The environmental factors that might start the autoimmune destruction of beta cells in the pancreas include dietary factors during early stages in life for instance lack of vitamin D, chemicals, enteroviruses, cytotoxins and other infections. Diabetes type 1 is a genetic disease that can be transferred from a parent to an offspring. There are 18 regions of the genome that are linked to the development of type 1 diabetes (Leslie, 2003).

The other type of diabetes is the type 2 which is characterized by the resistance of insulin and a progressive decline in the Beta cells of the pancreas from producing insulin. Type 2 diabetes does not involve any autoimmune-mediated damage of the beta cells of the pancreas. The etiology of diabetes type 2 is quite complex involving both genetic and lifestyle factors. Genes paly a crucial role in the development of diabetes type 2 through this contribution is seen to be quite small. The likelihood of the known gene variants that predispose type 2diabetes is about 5-10% (Leslie, 2003).This means that unlike other diseases that can be inherited, if an individual is homozygous for these genes does not mean that they have to end up developing type 2diabetes unless there are other environmental factors exist.

Lifestyle factors also cause type 2 diabetes. One of the major risk factors for the development of type 2 diabetes is obesity. If an individual has a significant degree of obesity, then they have an increased chance of developing type 2 diabetes. The excess adipose tissue that occurs in the state of chronic inflammation, and the inflammation leads to insulin resistance within the adipose tissue as well as other organs (Leslie, 2003). The other factors that predispose an individual to type 2diabetes are age, presence of a metabolic syndrome and sedentary lifestyle.

Type 1 diabetes is as a result of an autoimmune destruction of the beta cells of the pancreas. When the majority of the beta cells have been destroyed, the body is not able to maintain an average level of serum glucose and hence the signs of diabetes type 1 start to show. In the first stage of type 2 diabetes, the beta cells cease to respond to insulin. This leads to an increase in the production of insulin by the pancreas (McAuliffe, 2012). The resistance persists and the pancreas is no longer able to produce more insulin. This means that even before the development of diabetes, the beta cells are lost from the pancreas and as the disease progresses there is a continued loss of the functionality of the pancreas. The organs of a patient suffering from diabetes are under so much stress and are affected by the metabolic condition that has changed.

Diabetes affects various systems in individuals who suffer from the disease. One of these systems is the visual system whereby the condition results in the damage of the blood vessels in the eyes. The damage can lead to cataracts, glaucoma changes in the structure of the retina or even blindness. A damage of the blood vessels leads to the prevention of nerve signals from getting to the eyes. Diabetes can cause a buildup of pressure from the fluid that end up compressing nerves within the eyes (Stehouwer, 2009). The other system that can be affected by diabetes is the nervous system. Having a lot of glucose in circulation within the body can lead to the damage of nerves in the body. This leads to tingling, numbness and pain particularly in the feet and legs. If an individual develops sores or cuts they might end up not feeling them and they also heal very slowly. It might cause the less of sense in some areas of the body and can lead to amputation if this damage is severe. Diabetes can also affect the circulatory system in that the blood vessels become narrow and damaged (McAuliffe, 2012).

References

Leslie R, (2003). Causes of diabetes: Genetic and environmental factors. Chichester [England: J. Wiley.

McAuliffe, B. (2012). Diabetes. Mankato, Minn.: Creative Education.

Stehouwer, C. (2009). Diabetes. Oxford: Clinical Pub.