Diabetes Type 2
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Who discovered diabetes is actually interesting to learn. The story starts back in 1889. Two research doctors decided to remove the pancreas from a dog. They did not know what the function of a pancreas was. They wanted to find out.
The first clue came when they noticed that ants and flies swarmed around the dog’s urine. When they tested the urine they found a lot of sugar. This is not normal. Therefore, they figured that the pancreas they had removed somehow controlled sugar in the body.
Fast forward to 1922. Two Canadian doctors studied the pancreas. It is a large gland just below the stomach in the abdomen. Dr. F.G. Banting and Dr. C.H. Best discovered a chemical in the pancreas. They showed that the chemical controlled sugar levels in the blood. In 1923, Dr. Banting received the Nobel Prize for medicine for his discovery of the hormone insulin.
The date of The New York Times article was March 23, 1922. It explained that seven human beings received an injection with a “potent extract.” It brought about a distinct improvement in the patients. The “potent extract” was insulin.
You might be interested in some facts about diabetes. You probably know someone with diabetes. Researchers estimate that:
have diabetes.
About 5.7 million people do not know they have diabetes!
Thirty years ago, the only way to treat diabetes was using insulin from cows and pigs. Today there is a man-made version of insulin. Chemists make in a laboratory. Thirty years ago there were no proven tests for patient’s blood sugar levels. All of that has changed.
Diabetes is a disorder of your metabolism. Most of the food you eat is broken down into glucose. Glucose is a form of sugar in the blood. It is the main source of fuel for your body.
In the small intestines, the glucose passes into your bloodstream. For glucose to get into your cells, where it is needed, insulin needs to be present.
If you are healthy, your pancreas will produce insulin when you eat. If you have diabetes, your pancreas does not produce enough insulin. The glucose cannot get into your cells.
Glucose builds up in your blood. It spills into your urine. It goes out of your body. Glucose never gets to your cells.
The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. About 95% of all cases of diabetes are type 2. About 80% of them are overweight. It is associated with:
The symptoms develop gradually. You may notice:
Some people have no symptoms. A condition known as insulin resistance can develop. Your pancreas may be producing insulin, but your body cannot use it effectively.
Your doctor will prescribe diabetes medication for you take. You will learn how to test your blood sugar levels with a small glucose meter. It is very easy to do.
Diabetes types include three kinds.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease. This means your immune system turns against part of your body. Your immune system attacks and destroys your insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. If you have type 1 diabetes, you will need insulin injections daily.
Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. It will disappear after the birth of the child. A small percentage of pregnant women develop gestational diabetes. It is something doctors check for.
We hope you agree that learning who discovered diabetes was interesting. From the ants and flies to Dr.Banting and today we have answered your question. We explained the pancreas, the hormone insulin, and blood glucose. You are more knowledgeable now than before you asked the question.
Margaret Stenerson
February 20, 2010
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"This website is for all diabetes patients, their families and friends. I want people to know that they can reverse this disease by learning what to do, where to go for great medical help, how to deal with insurance and all the other problems facing them.
I have worked with some great people to make this web site easy to understand and devoted to helping you. Please let me know if anything doesn't help you or if we can do something more that would be useful to you.
The most important factor in a person getting healthy is their personal determination and their will to be better. You have to summon that determination and then take the steps described here - we are here to help and support you."
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