Diabetes

Essay by v.i.c.kUniversity, Bachelor'sA-, April 2005

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There are many diseases that affect human beings all around the world. Some of these diseases are caused by people's diets, environment, or their heritage. My research is based on what causes diabetes and whether it is genetically predisposed.

Before I get into the genetics of Diabetes I want to explain what it is. The article "Diabetes Explained" describes what it is by saying; "Diabetes (Diabetes Mellitus) is a severe, life-threatening condition in which the body loses its ability to turn glucose from food into usable energy." It is sometimes, mistakenly, called "Sugar" Diabetes because glucose is a sugar. This article gets into more detail in explaining what Diabetes and states,

Muscle cells and other tissues in the body require specific levels of glucose and carbohydrates to maintain their function. The amount of glucose absorbed into the bloodstream, and a hormone called insulin regulates the method by which glucose enters the body's cells.

This is produced in the pancreas, a gland located just behind the stomach. People with Diabetes either produce too little insulin, or their cells do not respond to its action, resulting in abnormally high levels of blood sugar. When sugar levels are above the normal range, the condition is called hyperglycemia.

There are two different types of Diabetes, one being more common than the other. There is Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes. The article "Diabetes Explained" states that people with Type 1 Diabetes have little or no ability to produce insulin and are entirely dependent on injections of insulin for the rest of their lives. The cause of Type 1 Diabetes is unknown, although childhood infections and a genetic tendency are two possibilities. The article also states that the pancreas undergoes a change and cells that normally produce insulin are destroyed. This may be a result...