03 Diabetes Mellitus
Type 2
Anatomy and
Physiology
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Pancreas
One of the essential organs within
the digestive system is the
pancreas. The pancreas sits inside
the abdomen. It is behind the
stomach and adjacent to the
spleen. It is connected to the
duodenum by the pancreatic duct,
and to the bloodstream via a rich
network of vessels. When it comes
to the function of the pancreas, it is
best to think about the two types of
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Endocrine
Pancreas
The endocrine pancreas is made up
of clusters of cells called
pancreatic islets or islets of
Langerhans. Pancreatic islets or
islets of Langerhans contain
approximately 1 million cells and
are responsible for producing
hormones. These cells include
alpha cells, which secrete
glucagon, and beta cells which
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RUGA, Marian Joyce T., BSN 3-D
[01]
Normal
When a healthy person's insulin levels decrease, it triggers a process that helps
control glucose levels. Insulin binds to the receptor on the cell, which then allows
glucose to enter the cell from the bloodstream. This mechanism effectively
decreases the level of glucose in the blood.
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Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
However, in Type 1 diabetes mellitus, the glucose does not enter the cell, it only
remains into the bloodstream. This leads to increase glucose levels in the blood.
Remember that, cells need glucose as a source of energy, so not letting the glucose
enter cells means that the cells starve for energy. In addition, Type 1 DM is also
known insulin dependent because the pancreas fails to produce insulin.
Insulin Resistance Diabetes Mellitus
If Type 1 is insulin dependent, Type 2 diabetes mellitus is insulin resistance. This
means that even though the pancreas still produces a lot of insulin, the cell fails to
respond to it properly, and glucose isn't able to enter the cell as efficiently. This
leads to high levels of glucose in the blood, a condition known as hyperglycemia.
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RUGA, Marian Joyce T., BSN 3-D
[02]
