Diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the body’s ability to utilize energy found in food. In Diabetes Mellitus Type II (DM II), the body does not respond to insulin produced by the pancreas.

 

The WHO established, from the worldwide population, that 347 million people have diabetes and 3.4 million people died of high blood sugar in 2004. It is projected that in 2030, diabetes will be the 7th leading cause of death in the world.

 

Role of insulin

 

Insulin is secreted when there is a high content of glucose in the blood. The role of insulin is to transport glucose inside the cells, allowing them to obtain proper energy and lowering blood glucose.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Surrounding the cell membranes , there is a receptor for insulin, like a lock being the receptor and the key being insulin. When insulin adheres to its receptor a process inside the cell begins. Vesicles, located inside the cell, travel to the cell membrane carrying glucose transporters. These transporters are called Glut4 and are like gates that allow glucose to come inside the cell, but only when they receive a signal from insulin. This takes place in muscle and fat cells.

 

Hyperglycemia

 

Hyperglycemia means there is a high content of glucose circulating in the blood. A person is diagnosed with DM II when their fasting glucose levels are above 126 mg/dL and when a random test shows glucose levels above 200 mg/dL.

 

The majority of cases of DM II are diagnosed between the ages 40 and 60 years old.

 

DM II

 

People with DM II have trouble with blood sugar for two reasons. The first reason happens because the insulin receptors become resistant; this means they stop responding to insulin. Therefore, blood glucose remains high. The second reason occurs due to a prolonged state of insulin resistance. When receptors stop responding to insulin, the pancreas overcompensates by producing more insulin. This damages the pancreas and with time it stops producing insulin alltogether.

 

Symptoms

 

The main symptoms of DM II are:

 

1. Thirst

2. Hunger

3. Blurry vision

4. Fatigue

5. Frequent urination

 

Complications

 

Without proper treatment serious damages can be caused in the body.

 

The most common ones are:

1. Blindness

2. Hypertension

3. Retinopathy

4. Nephropathy

5. Amputations

6. Foot ulcers

7. Neuropathy  

 

Neuropathy is the loss of sensitivity in the extremities, for this reason, if a diabetic suffers trauma, mainly in the feet, they don’t feel it and ulcers are produced. In the most extreme cases amputations are performed due to infection.

 

Hypertension is explained in another section and means high blood pressure. Blood pressure can increase if the quantity of blood increases too. In DM II blood volume increases because of a the high content of glucose. Glucose attracts water from the cells and therefore raises blood pressure.

 

Nephropathy is damage to the kidneys. Kidneys are in charge of filtering the blood by eliminating toxins and excess molecules that accumulate in the body. When a healthy person has no excess of glucose, their urine will never contain glucose. However, diabetics have a high content of glucose that filtrates through the kidneys damaging them.

 

Prevention

 

In this website you will find general advice to maintain and improve your health. The advice applies for any chronic disease.

 

Four simple things you can do to prevent DM II are:

1. Eat healthy foods with low fat and sugar content

2. Exercise 30 min. daily

3. Be aware of your weight (80% of obese persons have DM II)

4. Visit your doctor regularly and follow his advice on taking periodic blood tests

 

It’s important to point out that if your parents or grandparents have DM II, there is a higher risk of you acquiring it, so take necessary precautions. Some DM II cases are caused by genetics but its complications can be reduced with prudence.

 

After turning 40 it is of the upmost importance to periodically take blood tests and follow general health recommendations.

 

Finally, always consult your doctor to obtain more information on this condition. If you suspect you may be presenting symptoms of this disease, take action immediately.

If DM II is recognized promptly its consequences can diminish significantly. 

 

 

Bibliography:

1. Saudek, Christopher D., Richard R. Rubin, and Cynthia S. Shump. The Johns Hopkins Guide to Diabetes: For Today and Tomorrow. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins UP, 2001.

2. WHO. Noncommunicable Diseases (NDC) Country Profiles. 2014.