Diabetes
Type 2 Diabetes
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a condition associated with an elevated blood sugar. It occurs when the cells of the body become unresponsive to the insulin produced by the pancreas.
Glucose is required by the cells of the body as a source of fuel. Insulin is a hormone which encourages cells to take glucose out of the bloodstream and into the cells
In Type 2 diabetes the cells become resistant to the effect of insulin. In order to get glucose into the cells the pancreas must produce more insulin to overcome this resistance.
With time the patient requires enormous levels of insulin merely to feed enough glucose into the cells to keep them fueled.
The situation is one of famine in the face of plenty!
The treatment is to give the patient medication to enhance the pancreas' insulin production in the belief that this will improve the situation. The increase in available insulin will force more glucose into the cells. However, the result is that the person generally gains weight. This increases the insulin resistance and forces the pancreas to excrete yet higher levels of insulin to get fuel into the cells.
A cycle develops of weight gain followed by increases in doseages and number of medications, followed by further weight gain.
This cycle continues until the pancreas is unable to supply the enormous amounts of insulin required to facilitate glucose entry into the cells:
Insulin injections, along with the medications are now necessary to help the body achieve the huge levels of insulin necessary to keep the cells fuelled.
All the time the high levels of glucose are causing damage to the tissues and organs of the body. It is hardly surprising that diabetes is such a feared condition.