Genetic Disorders: Type 1 Diabetes - Mubeen Choudry

Genetic Disorders: Type 1 Diabetes

     Type 1 diabetes, also called Juvenile Diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, is a disease in which the pancreas does not produce insulin. Insulin is a hormone in your body which helps control the level of sugar (glucose).  Without this control the glucose levels build up in your body, without being used for energy. When your blood sugar levels decrease you feel hunger, confusion and sweating. Chromosomes involved in this disease are chromosome 6, where the HLA complex is and contributes a 50% chance of type 1 diabetes, and chromosome 11, where the insulin producing gene is found.

     This occurs when the beta cells that produce insulin are slowly destroyed by the immune system of the body. These beta cells are produced within the pancreas. It hasn't been clarified why this first starts, but scientists believe genetics and environmental factors are a cause, such as viral infections, which begin to destroy these cells.  Many people affected with T1 diabetes don’t have a family history of the disease; however there’s is a 10% chance of having the disease if immediate family members (sister, mom, dad etc) have the condition. It can also occur in identical twins, with a 33% chance, if one twin has the disease. On the other hand, children are most likely to inherit the disease from their affected father than the mother. It can occur at any age from infancy to a person’s 30’s, but most likely in adolescence or childhood. Both genders, male and female, have an equal risk of developing the disorder. Average life expectancy, based on statistics show that those born after 1965, who have the disorder is live up to 69 years. To help oneself, it’s advised to control your blood sugar to the recommended levels, eating healthy and having an active lifestyle.

     Juvenile diabetes is diagnosed with either an oral glucose tolerance test, or a fasting plasma glucose test. It’s not necessary for the parents to be screened for the disease, but it’s advised that everyone should ask for a diabetes test if they have similar symptoms to a person who does. Affected individuals experience:

•  extreme hunger, 
• fatigue, 
• blurred vision, 
• increased thirst, 
• constant urination, and
•  unexplained weight loss.

 T1 diabetes is treated by taking in insulin. This can be administered through injections, insulin pen or insulin pump. There are actually three types of insulin; 

• long-acting, 
• rapid-acting or
•  intermediate.

Doctors would recommend the best type for their patients.

     Although there is no cure for type 1 diabetes, researchers have been trying to use stem cells to be transplanted to affected individuals and take over the spot of the destroyed insulin producing cells. However, before this can be done many ethical and medical issues need to be examined. There aren't many ethical concerns on the patient’s side, just if it can actually help and be successful, or perhaps they have religious or cultural views.

    In my opinion, a better understanding and exploration of normal cells would help correct errors in medical treatments for type 1 diabetes and many other diseases. Also, a closer look at the diabetic genes in the person and family members. This exploration could help researchers find a cure and/or prevention of the further destruction of insulin cells.  

   QUESTION: Does genetics or the environment play a larger role to why people are affected with Type 1 Diabetes? What do you think?

Written By: Mubeen Choudry 

BIBLIOGRAPHY:

1.      http://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/type-1-diabetes/basics/

2.      http://stemcells.nih.gov/info/pages/ethics.aspx

3.      http://www.diapedia.org/type-1-diabetes-mellitus/genetics-of-type-1-diabetes

4.      http://www.diabetes.co.uk/diabetes-life-expectancy.html

5.      http://umm.edu/health/medical/reports/articles/diabetes-type-1

6.      Images: Google Images