Diabetes

The Pancreas and Insulin

Glucose is a type of sugar that is stored within the cells of the body and turned into energy. In individuals without diabetes, glucose levels in the blood stream are kept within narrow boundaries by a hormone produced in the pancreas called insulin. In diabetics, this hormone is either not produced at a sufficient amount or is not effectively used within the body. The result is that glucose builds up in the blood stream causing a number of complications.

Type 1 diabetes, previously referred to as insulin-dependent, child, or juvenile onset diabetes, occurs when the pancreas is unable to produce sufficient amounts of insulin because the cells that produce it have been attacked and destroyed by the immune system. Approximately 10 percent of all cases of diabetes are type 1.

Type 2 diabetes, also called non-insulin-dependent or adult onset diabetes, is caused by either the pancreas not producing enough insulin or the body becoming resistant to the hormone. Unlike type 1 diabetes, the symptoms of type 2 may be less severe. Often, type 2 diabetes goes undiagnosed for years and a large proportion of people with the disease are unaware of they have the condition. Type 2 diabetes [Page 386]comprises the largest group of diabetics, approximately 90 percent of all cases.

Gestational diabetes occurs when a pregnant woman's pancreas produces insufficient amounts of insulin to meet the new needs of her body. The condition is often only temporary and disappears around the time that the baby is born. For some women, their gestational diabetes may actually be preexisting type 2 diabetes. If this is the case, their diabetes is unlikely to disappear when their baby is born. Risk factors for gestational diabetes include a family history of the condition, being overweight or obese, polycystic ovary syndrome, and having previously given birth to a large baby. It is estimated that among all pregnancies, as many as 14 percent of women will develop gestational diabetes. Gestational diabetes increases the risk of a woman experiencing complications during pregnancy, such as premature birth and high blood pressure caused by preeclampsia. It also increases the risk of a number of complications for the baby, such as increased birth weight and jaundice. For the health of the mother and her unborn baby, it is essential that women with pre-existing or gestational diabetes have their pregnancy regularly monitored.

...