Normal function

Type 1 diabetes affects the normal function of the pancreas in production of insulin hormone leading to high blood pressure. Insulin is needed in the body to regulate and also allow the various cells to absorb the glucose supplied by carbohydrates. Although the body needs glucose, the blood needs to maintain a specific level, 100 mg/dL, at any given time.   The pancreas contains Islets of Langerhans cells which produces beta cells and later insulin. Beta cells release insulin directly into the bloodstream.  Blood glucose in the body keeps on changing as the intake of carbohydrates changes. Carbohydrates are the major suppliers of glucose in the body. Also, the blood sugar varies depending on the amount of work done by the muscles. Carbohydrates, therefore, increase the sugar in the body while cell muscles decrease it.

Insulin hormone is released from the beta cells in case the blood glucose increases. Once a person takes in carbohydrates, they are broken down by the body cells to form glucose which later dissolves in the blood. The pancreas detects the rise in blood sugar which in turn releases insulin. Insulin enhances glucose intake from the blood to the body cells.  The glucose in the blood cannot be absorbed in some cells which need it directly. Insulin signs those cells to absorb the glucose from the body. In the body, it is either stored in the cells or the liver in the form of glycogen or used up by the cells which carry out different functions. Insulin, therefore, reduces the glucose in the blood. However, when the pancreases detect that the blood sugar has gone down, it stops the release of more insulin. The pancreas also releases another hormone known as glucagon which is responsible for allowing the release of the stored glucose in case the level goes down below the normal.

Pathophysiology

Type 1 diabetes is characterized by hyperglycemia which is persistent or keeps on reoccurring. Hyperglycemia is a situation where the blood sugar is too high above the normal. When the blood is too much below the normal, the condition is known as hypoglycemia. Hyperglycemia occurs when the pancreas cannot produce insulin or produces very little insulin thereby preventing the intake of glucose from the blood to the liver and body cells. The pancreas is usually unable to produce enough or no insulin when the body immune system destroys the beta cells. When the body is fighting dangerous bacteria and viruses, it may ruin islets of Langerhans in the pancreas which are responsible for producing beta cells and in turn, insulin.   Damaging of the cells may also occur from the time of birth as a genetic disorder. Another cause of cell destruction is virus exposure.

When the body cells cannot absorb blood sugar as a result of insulin failure, the excess is absorbed in the urine. More water is therefore absorbed by the urine to cater for the increased glucose, and as a result, the body becomes dehydrated. Also, when the insulin production is low, the muscle cells are unable to absorbed glucose they need to carry out their functions. Glucose is required to form energy in the muscle cells. As a result, the body feels exhausted.  The body in such a case forms energy from fats leading to the production of acids which is risky to the body.

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