Differences between Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 and Type 2
Diabetes mellitus can be discussed as a metabolic disorder of a complex character, which is associated with hyperglycemia (Zaccardi, Webb, Yates, & Davies, 2016). It is possible to distinguish between type 1 diabetes mellitus and type 2 diabetes mellitus. The pathophysiologic difference between these disorders is that organisms of those persons who suffer from type 1 diabetes mellitus destroy pancreatic β-cells which produce insulin (Zaccardi et al., 2016). Still, it is important to pay attention to the fact that the actual causes of pancreatic cells’ destructions are not known, and they are only studied by researchers. As a result of the immune response to β-cells, an individual’s organism cannot produce any endogenous insulin in order to absorb glucose, and this disorder can be characterized as autoimmune (Zaccardi et al., 2016). Therefore, this type of diabetes mellitus is also viewed as insulin-dependent.
On the contrary, type 2 diabetes mellitus can develop during an individual’s life under the impact of some factors, including an inappropriate diet or obesity among other aspects. These factors cannot be discussed as the primary causes of this disorder, but it is important to note that they provoke its development (Zaccardi et al., 2016). When type 2 diabetes mellitus develops, the production of insulin by the pancreas becomes limited. Insulin resistance can be observed as the first sign of the problem, and it affects the process of absorbing glucose (Zaccardi et al., 2016). Furthermore, the progress of this disease can lead to a situation when a person begins to suffer from insulin deficiency. Still, this type of diabetes is characterized as non-insulin-dependent.
The Role of Insulin
The key role of insulin is the regulation of the metabolism of glucose, protein, and lipids. As a result, insulin works to affect skeletal muscles, the liver, and the adipose tissue (Qaid & Abdelrahman, 2016). When elevated amounts of glucose in blood provoke the release of insulin, glucose can be taken up and delivered to tissues only with the help transporters that can be activated by insulin. If there is little insulin, glucose transporters cannot act effectively, and this process influences the metabolism of glucose, as well as its storage and use (Qaid & Abdelrahman, 2016).
In addition, insulin also participates in the metabolism of protein at a microsomal level while influencing the amount of protein that can be formed during this process. Furthermore, it is important to note that insulin stimulates the metabolism of lipids with the focus on the synthesis of fatty acids or glycogen in an individual’s liver. Thus, insulin regulates the number of lipoproteins to guarantee the delivery of fatty acids to tissues.
It is also important to state that insulin as a hypoglycemic hormone is also related to the manifestations of diabetes mellitus because the deficiency of insulin, which is associated with type 1 diabetes, means that an individual needs other sources of insulin in order to guarantee metabolism of glucose, protein, and lipids (Qaid & Abdelrahman, 2016). When there is a lack of insulin, a person begins to suffer from hyperglycemia. Furthermore, it is necessary to state that insulin resistance typical of type 2 diabetes is associated with gradual changes in an individual’s abilities to regulate the amount of glucose in the blood in order to avoid a diabetic shock or a severe form of hyperglycemia.
References
Qaid, M. M., & Abdelrahman, M. M. (2016). Role of insulin and other related hormones in energy metabolism: A review. Cogent Food & Agriculture, 2(1), 1-18.
Zaccardi, F., Webb, D. R., Yates, T., & Davies, M. J. (2016). Pathophysiology of type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus: A 90-year perspective. Postgraduate Medical Journal, 92(1084), 63-69.