Course: Medical Biotechnology

 Metabolic and Multifactorial disease develops mostly due to deficiency of insulin. As a result high blood sugar will be there ( hyperglycemia )  Two types of Diabetes Mellitus: 1) Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus 2) Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

 Destruction or absence of β cells present in the Islets of Langerhans.  Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus as patients have to regularly take insulin.  This type may be associated with acidosis and it usually occurs before the age of 40.  Type1 DM occuring during the childhood is called Juvenile Diabetes.

 Degeneration of β cells.  Destruction of β cells caused by a viral infection.  Congenital Disorders of β cells  Destruction of β cells due to the development of antibodies against the insulin producing cells.

 Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes usually occurs after the age of 40.  May or may not be associated with acidosis.  In this type of DM, the structure and function of β cells and blood insulin level are normal. The diabetes usually occurs due to the absence or reduced number of insulin receptors in the cells of the body.

 Genetic Disorders.  Hormonal Disorders

 Along with damage done to pancreas many other organs can be affected. Hyperglycemia, a condition for high blood sugar level may cause complication to other organs.  Hyperglycemia affects blood vessels resulting in atherosclerosis.  Vascular complication result in development of :

 Hypertension  Myocardial Infarction  Degeneration of autonomic and peripheral nerves called Diabetic neuropathy.  Degeneration of Kidney known as Diabetic neuropathy.  Degeneration in retina known as Diabetic Retinopathy.

 Fasting Blood Sugar  Postprandial blood sugar  HbA1C Test  Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT)

 Increased blood sugar level (300 to 400 mg/dl)  Fats are mobilized from adipose tissue inorder to gain energy. The excess fatty acids are deposited on the walls of arteries resulting atherosclerosis.  Depletion of proteins from tissues.

 Glucosuria: Loss of Glucose from urine.  Polyuria: Urine formed in excess with high frequency.  Polydipsia: Increase in water uptake.  Polyphagia: Increase in food uptake.  Asthenia: Loss of Stength

 Most important factor is change in lifestyle by eating a healthy diet and taking regular exercise.  Staying away from sweets, pastas and smoking.

 Use of Fish Oil  Calcium intake  Grape Seed extract. Contains very potent antioxidants.  Vitamin C and E, Beta carotene, chromium, vanadium and garlic supplements have proved to be important in DM.

 According to the WHO, in 2010 there is an estimation of 285 million people globally affected. The number is expected to grow to 438 million by More than 70% of the affected people live in low and middle income countries.  In Pakistan, approximately7.1 million people are affected with Diabetes.

 Harris et al. have studied the role of calpins, a protein produced by the gene CAPN10.  It was demonstrated that calpin10 was associated with pathways involved in glucose metabolism, insulin secretion and insulin action.

 Fierce Biotech Research have reported the news of Stem cells therapy used to cure both type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus in Rat models.  Neural stem cells were extracted from brain of diabetic rats. It was converted into insulin producing cells by bathing them in a human protein known as Wnt3a and adding an antibody known to block insulin-production inhibitors.  The multiplied cells were then layered on top of pancreas.  In a week the blood glucose level of rat models with both types of Diabetes were normal.

 Sembulingam, K., & Sembulingum, P. (2008) Essentials of Medical Physiology. 4 th Edition. Noida, India: Jaypee Brothers Medical Publishers   