Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease where the body is unable to properly control blood glucose levels, leading to high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). There are two main types: type 1 diabetes results from an autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas causing absolute insulin deficiency, while type 2 diabetes involves insulin resistance and sometimes relative insulin deficiency, associated with obesity. Long-term complications of high blood sugar include damage to nerves, kidneys, eyes and cardiovascular disease. Diabetes affects over 425 million people worldwide and is on the rise due to increasing obesity rates.
2. Body unable to control blood glucose levels
adequately
Symptoms:
Frequent urination
Thirst
Weight loss
3. Long term complications:
Cardiovascular disease (atherosclerosis and
stroke)
Damage to nerves, kidneys and eyes (blindness)
Approx. 425 million people worldwide
Rise in numbers associated with an increase in
obesity
8. Type 1 diabetes (5-10% of diabetics)- Absolute
deficiency of insulin secretion
Cells of body immune system cause
destruction of insulin secreting 硫-cells in the
pancreas. Antibodies against key pancreatic
proteins involved in insulin storage and
secretion- deficiency in Insulin production
Usually diagnosed in childhood
Not associated with weight gain
9. Type 2 diabetes
More common form (90-95% of diabetics)
Loss of ability to respond to insulin
Over 30 years of age, overweight, high blood
pressure unhealthy lipid profile
Hypersecretion of insulin
May progress towards insulin deficiency
Overweight a strong risk factor for developing
type 2 diabetes
10. Normal glucose levels 3.5 to 5.5 mmol/l
before meals
Maintained by insulin and glucagon mainly
(adrenaline, cortisol and growth hormone)
11. Recall the following pathways:
Gluconeogenesis
Glycolysis
Glycogenesis
Lipogenesis
12. Figure 1. Insulin signalling in an adipocyte
Abbreviation: P, phosphorylation on tyrosine.
13. Long term complications:
Macrovascular and Microvascular
Modifications of proteins and lipids. Glycation
products
Oxidative stress and damage to vascular
endothelium lining blood vessels
14. Diabetic acidosis
Alternative energy source
Triglycerides from adipose tissue broken down to
free fatty acids and taken up by the liver-
converted to acetyl CoA (precursor for ketone
bodies
Lower blood pH
(Coma and death if not untreated)
18. Other Specific types of diabetes
Genetic defects of the 硫-cell
Associated with monogenic defects in 硫-cell
function- onset of hyperglycemia at an early
age
Impaired insulin secretion
Autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance
Six genetic loci on different chromosomes
identified
19. Most common form is associated with
mutations on chromosome 12 in the hepatic
transcription factor
20. Mutations in the glucokinase gene on
chromosome 7p
Glucokinase- glucose sensor for 硫-cell
Defect in glucokinase gene implies only
increased plasma levels of glucose are
necessary to elicit normal levels of insulin
secretion
21. Inability to convert proinsulin to insulin-
autosomal dominant pattern of inheritance