Medicine and Health related Information

WHAT IS DIABETES

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder caused due to the deficiency of the hormone insulin or the inability of the body to utilise the available amount of insulin. Insulin is produced by a gland called pancreas. Oxidization of glucose in the body is necessary in order to release energy and insulin helps in this. Because of the insufficient insulin the glucose accumulates in the blood causing the symptoms of diabetes.

MECHANISM OF DIABETES

The carbohydrates we take are digested in the intestine and the end products of this carbohydrates digestion are sugars chiefly comprising of glucose. This glucose is absorbed through the mucous membrane of intestines to enter the blood stream and this leads to an increase concentration of glucose in the blood. Insulin released from the pancreas makes this glucose available to each and every cell of the body which uses it as the fuel to generate heat and energy. Insulin is essential for glucose fuel to gain entry into the cellular engine. If the amount of glucose in the blood stream is greater than the cellular requirements then insulin converts the excess glucose into glycogen and this glycogen is stored in the liver. Insulin is also concerned with the conversion of glucose into fat by the liver which is then stored into adipose tissues.

In general after we take food the concentration of glucose in the blood rise and insulin prevents the glucose concentration to rise above the normal physiological limit. Thus by this we can understand that the main and obvious function of insulin is to control the concentration of glucose in the blood. If the insulin is absent or in not sufficient amount in the blood then the glucose absorbed is can’t enter various body cells and also can’t be converted into glycogen. This leads to an increase blood glucose level and when this blood passes through the kidneys, the sugar which is beyond the capacity of kidneys to reabsorb spills into urine.

It is well known that glucose is the main source of energy to all the cells of the body and the insulin being the main transport mechanism but due to deficiency of insulin the glucose cannot enters the cells which causes cellular starvation because of this the body uses the stored fats and proteins. This is why diabetic patients becomes weak and their weight reduces.

Insulin helps in metabolism of fats and proteins. Insulin converts the fatty acids into fats which is stored. Insulin prevents conversion of stored fats and proteins for the energy requirements of the body till sugar and stored glycogen are available to meet the energy needs of the body.