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Diabetes Mellitus Essays

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Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels, which result from defects in insulin secretion, or action, or both. Diabetes mellitus Diabetes is a chronic medical condition, meaning that although it can be controlled, it lasts a lifetime. Individuals are normally capable of digesting carbohydrates, in particular those most common in food; starch, and some disaccharides such as sucrose, are converted within a few hours to simpler forms such as the monosaccharide glucose, the principal carbohydrate energy source used by the body. Insulin is released into the blood by beta cells, located in the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas, in response to rising levels of blood glucose, usually …show more content…

In relation to other possible causes of Type 1 diabetes, Emedicine Health states that “Environmental factors, including common unavoidable viral infections, may also contribute. Type 1 diabetes is most common in people of non-Hispanic, Northern European descent, followed by African Americans, and Hispanic Americans. It is relatively rare in those of Asian descent. Type 1 diabetes is slightly more common in men than in women” (Emedicine Health, 2011, para. 3). Type 2 diabetes is a genetic condition and runs in families that have a positive family history of this condition. American Heart Association states, “This type of diabetes can occur under two different circumstances: the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin, or the body develops "insulin resistance" and can't make efficient use of the insulin it makes” (American Heart Association, 2010). In relation to possible risk factors of type 2 diabetes Emedicine Health declares “Risk factors for developing type 2 diabetes include the following: high blood pressure, high blood triglyceride (fat) levels, gestational diabetes or giving birth to a baby weighing more than 9 pounds, high-fat diet, high alcohol intake, sedentary lifestyle, obesity or being overweight” (Emedicine Health, 2011, para. 4). Aging is also a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes; risk begins to increase significantly at

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