BARI 2D | A Clinical Study

Diabetes

Diabetes is a disorder in which the sugars in the body cannot be used for energy due to a lack of the hormone insulin. The pancreas, an organ located behind the stomach, makes the hormone, insulin. In diabetes, the pancreas stops making enough insulin and the glucose remains in the bloodstream, a situation known as hyperglycemia.

Normally, after a meal, the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood rises. Glucose is the principal energy source for the cells in our bodies. In order for glucose to get into our cells, insulin must be present. Insulin is like the key that unlocks the door on a cell allowing the entry of glucose. Having too much sugar in the bloodstream can cause many immediate problems. These include, dehydration, seizures and coma. Long-term complications of diabetes include damage to the kidneys, heart and blood vessels, eyes, and nerves.

There are two types of diabetes. Type 1, also known as Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (IDDM) occurs because of the body's own destruction of cells in the pancreas that make insulin. Individuals with Type 1, therefore need insulin treatment in order to survive. Onset usually is before age 30 and is frequently associated with other auto-immune diseases, such as hypothyroidism.

Type 2 diabetes, or Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM), generally occurs after age 30. It is commonly associated with obesity. With Type 2, the pancreas still makes insulin, but the quantity is either insufficient or the tissues of the body are resistant to it. This can usually be managed by modifications in diet and exercise.

What Is Type 2 Diabetes?

The most common form of diabetes is Type 2 diabetes (once known as Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus or NIDDM). About 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes. This form of diabetes usually develops in adults over the age of 30 and is most common among adults over age 40. About 80% percent of people with Type 2 diabetes are overweight.

Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism--the way our bodies use digested food for growth and energy. Most of the food we eat is broken down by the digestive juices into a simple sugar called glucose. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body.

After digestion, the glucose passes into our bloodstream where it is available for body cells to use for growth and energy. For the glucose to get into the cells, insulin must be present. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach.

When we eat, the pancreas is supposed to automatically produce the right amount of insulin to move the glucose from our blood into our cells. In people with diabetes, however, the pancreas either produces little or no insulin, or the body cells do not respond to the insulin that is produced. As a result, glucose builds up in the blood, overflows into the urine, and passes out of the body. Thus, the body loses its main source of fuel even though the blood contains large amounts of glucose.

The symptoms of Type 2 diabetes develop gradually. Symptoms include feeling tired or ill, frequent urination (especially at night), unusual thirst, weight loss (despite normal or increased appetite), blurred vision, frequent infections, and slow healing of sores.

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