What is Diabetes (Type 1)???

sqArk

Registered User

What is Diabetes (Type 1)???

2003-07-24 06:19:08 PM
Hi All,
I have never gotten a straight answer (or the same answer) from all the
"professionals" that I have asked, so I am asking here.
What is diabetes (type 1) ????
Is it the islets malfunctioning? Is it the beta cells malfunctioning?
What is an islet, what is a beta cell? are they the same thing?
or has my immune system attacked these cells (islet or beta??)??
Which part of me is the bit that is screwed up?
Are the islets/betacells ruined because of my immune system,
that is, phsically damaged, or are
they just being surpressed by my immune system?
And if it is my immune system attacking my islets/betacells, what part of
my immune system is doing this??
or is it something external surpressing my islets/betacells?
or did something external attack my islets/beta cells long ago and now
they just sit there ruined, not working??
please, clarify this.
thank you so much in advance
Cameron
-

Joe Durusau

Registered User

2003-07-24 07:48:49 PM

Re:What is Diabetes (Type 1)???

Well, you really ned to talk to a doctor. But, since folls rush
in, and all that...
The basic answer is that type I is an autoimmune disease, in
which the immune system kills the beta cells in the islets of
Langerhans (don't depend on my spelling) in the pancreas. The beta
cells normally produce insulin. Once dead, there is no longer
any insulin production. Sometimes, type I is referred to as
Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, but the term is somewhat
misleading, because there are type IIs who for various reasons
have to take insulin. A doc can do a test to see whether the
specific antigen is present which indicates an immune system
attack on the beta cells. Most of the time, type I develops
early in life (first few years). It is known, however, to start
must later. I know someone who developed full-blown type I in
his mid 30s. The fundamental mechanism depends on two factors:
1) a genetic error which does not prevent the immune system atack,
and 2) an environmental trigger that starts the attack.
For more details, consult your local library or the FAQ.
Speaking only for myself,
Joe Durusau
sqArk wrote:

Quote

Hi All,

I have never gotten a straight answer (or the same answer) from all the
"professionals" that I have asked, so I am asking here.

What is diabetes (type 1) ????

Is it the islets malfunctioning? Is it the beta cells malfunctioning?
What is an islet, what is a beta cell? are they the same thing?

or has my immune system attacked these cells (islet or beta??)??

Which part of me is the bit that is screwed up?
Are the islets/betacells ruined because of my immune system,
that is, phsically damaged, or are
they just being surpressed by my immune system?

And if it is my immune system attacking my islets/betacells, what part of
my immune system is doing this??

or is it something external surpressing my islets/betacells?

or did something external attack my islets/beta cells long ago and now
they just sit there ruined, not working??

please, clarify this.

thank you so much in advance

Cameron
-

Joe Durusau

Registered User

2003-07-26 08:44:34 PM

Re:What is Diabetes (Type 1)???

Nico Kadel-Garcia wrote:

Quote

Joe Durusau wrote:

>Well, you really ned to talk to a doctor. But, since folls rush
>in, and all that...
>
>The basic answer is that type I is an autoimmune disease, in
>which the immune system kills the beta cells in the islets of

*Most* Type 1. Type 1 is a diagnostic criterion, not necessarily
indicative of the source of the disease. Other causes include cystic
fibrosis, hemochromatosis, and some sex chromsome problems.

Well, the Merck manual, (1999 edition) gives the criteria for type I

DM as: Extremely low plasma insulin and C-peptide, Insulitus, selective
loss of beta cells, and Islet cell anitbodies at diagnosis.
If there are other criteria, anyone who cares to share them, please list
and if possible, cite a source.

Quote

>Langerhans (don't depend on my spelling) in the pancreas. The beta
>cells normally produce insulin. Once dead, there is no longer
>any insulin production. Sometimes, type I is referred to as
>Insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, but the term is somewhat
>misleading, because there are type IIs who for various reasons
>have to take insulin. A doc can do a test to see whether the
>specific antigen is present which indicates an immune system
>attack on the beta cells. Most of the time, type I develops
>early in life (first few years). It is known, however, to start
>must later. I know someone who developed full-blown type I in
>his mid 30s. The fundamental mechanism depends on two factors:
>1) a genetic error which does not prevent the immune system atack,
>and 2) an environmental trigger that starts the attack.

Yeah, the labeling gets nutty. Juvenile onset, adult onset (the old
terms), Type I and Type II (slightly newer labels), and now Type 1 and
Type 2.

It also seems, from some interesting immunological work at the
University of West Virginia, that if the immune problem is controlled
it's possible in lab animals with no further treatment to regrow beta
cells, apparently from adult "stem cells". Very exciting stuff!

Speaking only for myself,

Joe Durusau
-

health diabetes