Diabetes type 2 as a pathological condition - Research Paper Example

Download file to see previous pages... Insulin is an important hormone of the human body that performs many vital functions. Insulin is secreted by the beta cells of the pancreas. The functions of insulin mainly include the metabolism of the body fuels which are carbohydrates, proteins and lipids. The most important role of insulin is directed towards the maintenance of normal glucose levels in the blood. Insulin works towards the movement of glucose into the muscles as well as the adipose tissue. It increases the conversion of glucose to glycogen and therefore, maintains the levels of glucose in the blood. Insulin is mainly an anabolic hormone and it also promotes the formation of fatty acids and triglycerides. It functions in a similar manner by increasing the production of proteins. These functions of insulin become greatly disturbed in type 2 diabetes. The functions of insulin are not carried out in the body in diabetes type 2 and if this condition persists for a long time, it results in pathologies of the eye, kidneys, cardiovascular system and the central nervous system. Diabetes type 2 is a pathological condition which is referred to as a syndrome owing to the fact that it affects most of the important systems of the human body. Diabetes mellitus is defined as “a clinical syndrome characterized by hyperglycemia due to absolute or relative deficiency of insulin.”...
This essay discusses that diabetes mellitus is termed as a syndrome as it alters the functioning of the other organs of the human body and it is the cause of other pathologies amongst the patients. The complications associated with the disease are due to the microvascular changes that mainly occur in the large as well as the medium vessels of the muscles in the human body. The Microvascular disease tends to alter the structure and functioning of capillaries that supply organs. The macrovascular changes occurring in diabetes result in affecting the heart as well as the vascular supply of distal parts of the limbs. The process of atherosclerosis becomes fast in the diabetic patients and this can lead to cause myocardial infarction as well as stroke in these patients. Furthermore, disruption in the continuity of supply to the distal areas of the limbs can cause extremity gangrene in the diabetic patients. The changes in the capillaries are associated with pathologies of the kidneys, eyes as well as the nervous system. The central and the peripheral nerves become affected owing to microvascular disease. The disruption in the capillaries of the eye can result in conditions like glaucoma and cataract. The most common impact on the eye is the resultant retinopathy. Diabetes has been labeled to be the most common cause of blindness in the West as well. The functioning of the kidneys is also affected and uncontrolled diabetes is considered to be a major cause of severe renal disease in the developed countries. ...Download file to see next pagesRead More