Diabetes and its control

• what does hyperglycaemia mean?

  • raised blood sugar
  • don't produce enough insulin, or your body can't effectively respond to insulin produced, so blood glucose concentration remains high
• what does hypoglycaemia?


  • blood glucose is lower than standard range, due to things such as drinking heavily without eating can keep liver from releasing glucose from its glycogen stores
• what are some symptoms of diabetes mellitus?

  • unable to metabolise carbohydrates
  • damage to nerves and blood vessels
  • insulin receptors on membranes may not work well (Type 2)
  • excess body weight
  • overeating
• why might high blood glucose cause damage to kidneys?

  • lowered water potential of blood, so more water moves in increasing blood pressure
  • damage bowman's capsule - basement membrane makes them 'leaky'
• what is Type 1 diabetes?

  • develops in childhood
  • quick development
  • no know cause
  • evidence suggests arises as a result of an autoimmune response where body own cells attack Beta cells
  • insulin injections
• what is Type 2 diabetes?

  • develops in adulthood, but sometimes in childhood also
  • body can't effectively use insulin and control blood glucose levels
  • Beta cells don't produce enough insulin, glycoprotein insulin receptor on membrane doesn't work properly
  • cells lose responsiveness to insulin, don't take up enough glucose, leaving it in the blood
  • excess body weight, inactive, overeating
• is Type 1 diabetes caused by a genetic factor or environmental factors?

  • early development likely genetic, inheritance of autoimmune disease
  • genetic element - increased risk if there is a history of diabetes in family
  • correlation between primitive births with very low birth mass and type 1 - environmental