Diabetes: Types I and IIU.S. Government figures, January 2003, report 17 million Americans with
diabetes. For a disease that is so devastating in its effects upon the body,
diabetes is one of the easiest to overcome. I say this respectful of the fact that
there are some difficult cases, especially in the more advanced “brittle” types,
or what is called type I or juvenile diabetes.
There are basically two types of diabetes. Type I, which is usually called
juvenile or brittle diabetes, fits in the category of insulin dependent. Type II,
or what is referred to as late onset diabetes, is considered non-insulin
dependent diabetes. It can, however, become insulin dependent.
In my opinion there is very little difference between these types except
the associated tissue weaknesses in type I, which have become much weaker
through genetic transmission. To better understand the disease called diabetes
let’s examine the tissues and cells involved and the cause behind their failure.
THE ROLE OF THE PANCREAS
One of the glands involved in diabetes is the pancreas, which is both an
exocrine and an endocrine gland. The pancreas is located behind the stomach,
in front of the first and second lumbar vertebrae, situated horizontally with its
“head” attached to the first part of the small bowel (the duodenum). The “tail”
of the pancreas extends to the spleen.
The pancreas has two vital jobs to perform, without which the body
could not live. First, is the secretion of major digestive enzymes. Sodium of
bicarbonate is also released at this time to alkalize the stomach contents so
these digestive enzymes can work. Second, the most pertinent to diabetes, is
the production of insulin by the beta cells for glucose utilization. When the
cells in the pancreas become weak and fail to do their respective jobs, both
aspects or functions can be affected. There are several other functions of the
pancreas, which we’ll discuss later.
Digestion is one of the first things we think about when we think of the
pancreas. Even though not directly related to diabetes, proper digestion is a
vital process whereby foods are broken down so that their nutrition and