Diabetes mellitus is an endocrine disorder associated with abnormally high levels of glucose in the blood. This happens because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin, or the insulin produced is ineffective.
Many of the body’s cells rely on insulin to attach to them in order to allow glucose to enter from the blood so that the cells can be supplied with energy. If glucose remains in the blood the body will metabolise fats and proteins for energy instead.
High concentration of glucose in the blood can result in: • blindness or visual impairments
Types of diabetes mellitus
There are two types of diabetes mellitus: type 1 insulin-dependent diabetes and type 2 non-insulin-dependent diabetes. Type 1
Type 2 Insulin-dependent diabetes (IDD)
• The pancreas does not produce insulin • Often hereditary, and develops mainly during childhood, adolescence and young adulthood
• Controlled by injectable insulin and by diet and exercise
• Cannot be reversed Non-insulin-dependent diabetes (NIDD)
• Develops mainly during later adulthood, especially among overweight adults
• Controlled by oral medication or injectable insulin and by diet and exercise, or by diet and exercise alone
• Can be reversed when a person loses a significant amount of their body weight
Glucose enters the bloodstream from the digestive system
Unhealthy amounts of glucose remain in the bloodstream
Glucose enters the bloodstream from the
digestive system
Unusable insulin enters the
bloodstream from the pancreas
Cell
No insulin available to bind to cell
Glucose cannot enter cell
• The pancreas produces insulin that cannot be used by the body
Glucose enters bloodstream from the digestive system
• kidney failure.
Unhealthy amounts of glucose remain in the bloodstream
No insulin is available to bind to cell
Cell
Glucose cannot enter cell
Glucose returns to the bloodstream
Cell has no glucose for energy
Symptoms of diabetes mellitus • Frequent urination • Excessive thirst • Weight loss • Tiredness
• Lack of concentration • Blurred vision Did you know
Approximately 170,000 people in Ireland have a diagnosis of type 2 diabetes, with up to 15,000 new cases diagnosed every year. About 80% of people diagnosed are obese.
Injecting insulin Leaving Certificate Home Economics 71
