Mohsin Aden 29/05/14
Diabetes Essay
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic disease that affects millions of people worldwide. Diabetes is defined as the sweetness of blood. Diabetes occurs when the pancreas of the body stops producing insulin due to some kind of autoimmune response on the insulin producing cells. A second reason why diabetes occurs is when the body is unable to use the insulin that the pancreas produces.(Bethesda) Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar levels and prevents the blood sugar from increasing to dangerous levels. Hyperglycemia, or raised blood sugar, is a common problem of uncontrolled diabetes and over time may lead to serious irreversible damage to many of the body's systems, especially the nerves and blood vessels. There are three different types of diabetes: type 1 diabetes (IDDM), type 2 diabetes (NIDDM), and gestational diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes and the best type to study among cultures.(WebMD) The Pima Indians are a great example to use to show why type 2 diabetes has now become one of the worlds most prevalent diseases.(Leach) Because of a change in the Pima Indians diet from a more traditional diet, it has caused there to be an increase in type 2 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes commonly referred to as juvenile diabetes is characterized by a lack of insulin produced by the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes is most of the time occurs in children, which is why it is called juvenile diabetes.(Ethnomed) Type 1 diabetes accounts for 10% of all diabetes cases worldwide. The lack of insulin is due to the destruction of the body’s β-cells in the islets of Langerhans, which produce insulin. The destruction of the β-cells is due to an autoimmune response....