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Martha Wembly has a history of diabetes mellitus, type 2. How is this different from diabetes mellitus, type 1

Sagot :

Answer and explanation:

Diabetes Mellitus is a condition characterized by high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia), if not properly controlled this disease can severely damage many organs and cause death.

There are different types of Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational (this type of diabetes, in particular, is unique to pregnant women).

In a healthy body, when blood sugar levels are high (for example, right after we eat), Insulin would be released from the pancreatic beta-cells to induce the entering of glucose (also called sugar) into different tissues such as skeletal muscle and fat, where it will be used to produce energy and store the excess for when the body needs it.

Patients that suffer from Diabetes Mellitus cannot get the glucose they ingest into the mentioned tissues, and for that reason, the blood sugar levels stay high and can produce several life-threatening consequences. This incapacity can have different roots and is the reason behind the classification of this condition.

Type 1 Diabetes is the most uncommon of the two and it appears for the first time during childhood or teenage years. Patients with type 1 Diabetes CANNOT produce Insulin, because their pancreatic beta-cells are deficient. For this reason, these individuals have to be administered exogenous Insulin for the rest of their lives.

Type 2 Diabetes is, by far, the most common type of Diabetes. Unlike type 1 diabetics, these patients can produce glucose, but the combination between genetic predisposal and unhealthy habits such as poor diets or sedentarism can lead to a condition called Insulin resistance, in which the tissues cannot accept the glucose even if there's Insulin around. This type of Diabetes usually starts manifesting during adulthood (especially in patients that are older than 40 years old) and is treated with specific medication and a change in their habits.