Diabetes

Age Range 14-16
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  • Diabetes
  • Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
  • The discovery of insulin
  • Controlling blood glucose levels
  • Treating diabetes
  • Making human insulin
  • Gene therapy for diabetes
  • Quiz

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What is diabetes mellitus?

Diabetes mellitus is a condition where sufferers cannot properly regulate the way their body uses glucose. There are 180 million people worldwide who suffer from diabetes; 2.5 million are in the United Kingdom.

The disorder is more commonly known as diabetes and this will be used throughout the resource.

Contents

Diabetes: An introduction

The ancient Egyptians first recognised the disorder now known as diabetes mellitus. The name relates to 'sweet tasting urine' because one of the signs of the disease is that sugar ( glucose ) can be found in the urine. Physicians in the past would have tasted the urine of patients to detect diabetes mellitus.

Obese man

Diabetes is on the increase within developed nations, Obesity in particular is linked with an increased risk in diabetes

Courtesy of: Anthea Sieveking / Wellcome Images

It was not until 1922 that insulin was discovered and successfully used to treat diabetes. Until then, diabetics would die prematurely due to problems caused by their diabetes, such as severe weight loss and cardiovascular disorders.

Today, diabetes is not such a killer. It can be controlled with a strict diet, medicines or a combination of both. However, if not managed correctly, diabetes can cause problems with the heart and circulation, kidney damage and blindness. Worldwide, 4 million people continue to die each year due to disorders associated with diabetes.

How to use this site

There are a number of interactive features in this e-source:

  • A glossary of terms: any word with a glossary entry is highlighted like this.
  • Quick questions: at the end of most pages or sections there is a question or set of quick questions to test your understanding.
Autoimmune disease
A disorder where the body's immune system behaves abnormally and starts attacking its own cells
Autopsies
The study of the human body to investigate how a disease or injury lead to death
Cardiovascular disorders
Diseases linked to the heart and its blood vessels, for example heart disease and stroke
Embryo
The name for a group of cells that are developing into a fetus. In humans this is from implantation to the 8th week of development
Glossary
A list of often difficult or specialized words with their definitions
Fermentation
Process where microorganisms are cultured so that they reproduce and increase in quantity
Gene
A short piece of DNA which is responsible for the inheritance of a particular characteristic. It codes for the production of a specific protein
Gene therapy
A new, experimental method of fighting disease by replacing a defective gene with a healthy gene
Genetic engineering
A general name for the processes which scientists use to produce desired characteristics or substances that are in short supply, such as human insulin
Glucagon
A hormone produced by the pancreas. It causes the liver to convert glycogen back to glucose and to release glucose into the bloodstream.
Glucose
A type of sugar: a mono saccharide with 6 carbon atoms (a hexose sugar)
Harvested
The process by which a useful substance is extracted
Home Office
The UK government department responsible for regulating the use of animals in scientific research
Hormone
A chemical messenger produced by a particular gland or cells of the endocrine system. Hormones are transported throughout the body in the blood stream but they produce a response only in specific target cells
Hyperglycaemic
This is the term used when the blood glucose level is too high (more than 10 mmol/l)
Hypoglycaemic
This is the term used when the blood glucose level is too low (less than 4 mmol/l)
Immune system
The body's own system for protecting it against disease (where it produces antibodies to attack invading pathogens)
In vitro fertilisation
A process where the egg is fertilised outside of the body and then transferred back into the uterus to develop normally
Insulin
A hormone produced by the pancreas. It allows cells in the body to take in and store glucose.
Liver
A large organ in the upper abdomen which manufactures, stores and breaks down substances as required by the body
Non-animal alternatives
Processes such as cell culture, computer modelling, imaging and microdosing of human volunteers that can give information on potential harmful effects of a substance
Obesity
A disorder where an excessive amount of fat has accumulated in the body. It results when the energy taken in as food is stored in the body instead of being used up through activity
Pancreas
An endocrine gland which produces insulin
Respiration
The biochemical process by which the cells in the body releases energy
Sterile
Uncontaminated by microorganisms
UK Law [for animal testing]
Animal welfare is regulated in the UK by the Animal (Scientific Procedures) Act 1986


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