User talk:J1rodrig

Diabetes mellitus is the medical term given to the chronic condition in which the body is unable to transport the glucose (sugar) in our bloodstream to the rest of the cells in our body. This has two main consequences: elevated levels of glucose in our blood, and an energy deficiency in our cells. The first consequence is the result of not being able to remove the glucose from the blood, whereas the second flows from the fact that glucose serves as the primary source of energy for our cells. Diabetes can be the result of a variety of factors ranging from diet to genetics. This article will discuss a specific type of diabetes (T1DM) that results from a hyperactive immune system, which means that it belongs under a class of diseases known as autoimmune diseases.

Autoimmune Diseases and Type 1 Diabetes
The immune system is an intricate and advanced network that utilizes cell machinery to serve the primary purpose of protecting the body from foreign invaders such as bacteria, viruses, pathogens, or anything that attempts to disrupt the delicate equilibrium of a multi-cellular organism. In the case of an autoimmune disease, the immune system mistakenly attacks normal, non-threatening body cells or tissues. In short, the body begins to attack itself. A hyperactive immune system has the potential to be extremely dangerous, depending on what type or class of cell is targeted by the immune system.

After a meal, the complex carbohydrates in the ingested food are broken down to simple sugars, and shortly afterward they enter the bloodstream. Upon secretion from the pancreas, a hormone called insulin regulates the level of sugar in the blood by binding to glucose-transport proteins and signaling them to move the sugar molecules into the cells, where they are either converted into energy, or stored as the polysaccharide gylcogen. In the case of Type 1 Diabetes, the immune system attacks the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas. Without any beta cells the body cannot produce insulin, and as a result it cannot properly remove sugar from the blood or provide ample energy for the cells.

Treatment
In order to solve the problem of not having insulin in the bloodstream, treatment for Type 1 Diabetes involves an intravenous dosage of insulin every time carbohydrates are consumed. The amount of insulin that is delivered is proportional to the grams of carbohydrates that are eaten, and it is also dependent on the glucose level before the meal. That said, people with T1DM must carefully monitor what they are eating and what their blood sugar level is, because that will determine how much insulin they inject. Although traditionally delivered with a syringe, insulin can also be delivered through an insulin pump, which attaches to the stomach and can be remotely controlled to deliver a specified amount of insulin.