Biology 1010 - What Has Happened on the Cellular Level to Cause Type II Diabetes?

David B. Knowlton

Biology 1010

October 2, 2015

Research Paper 1

                        What has happened on the cellular level to cause type II diabetes? What type of research is being conducted to find a cure for this ailment?

There are about million Americans who have diabetes mellitus, a serious lifelong disorder that is

yet incurable. About one half of these people do not know they have the disease and are not

under medical care. Researchers have made advances in managing diabetes and treating the

complications. Major advances include, Development of better ways for patients to monitor

blood glucose levels at home. Development of external and implantable insulin pumps which

deliver appropriate amounts of insulin and replace daily injections. Use of laser treatment for

diabetic eye disease, reducing the risk of blindness. Successful transplantation of kidneys in

diabetics with kidney failure. Better ways of managing diabetic pregnancies, and improving

chances of a successful outcome. Proof that intensive management of blood glucose levels

reduce and may prevent development of microvascular complications of diabetes, such as

peripheral vascular disease. Use of glargine (insulin drug) that needs to be injected only daily.

Benefits of taking aspirin for patients with diabetes and coronary disease. Development of

noninvasive blood glucose monitoring systems (e.g. use of laser beam and infrared technology).

New oral medications for better control in type ll diabetes.

In the future, insulin may be administered through nasal sprays or taken in the form of a pill.

Researchers continue to look for the exact cause of diabetes and methods to prevent and cure the

disease. Researchers have identified genes involved in type l diabetes, which makes its

inheritance patterns complicated. Other scientists are studying environmental factors that may

trigger type l diabetes. If they can determine what causes the immune system to attack the cells

that produce insulin, they may discover how to prevent the condition from developing. At the

national institute of health, researchers believe stem cell research has the potential to help people

with type l diabetes. Researchers attribute most cases of type ll diabetes to obesity. Researchers

are investigating the exact role that extra weight plays in preventing the proper utilization of

insulin and why some overweight people develop the disease but others do not.

There are several complications related to type II diabetes. One possible complication is cardiovascular

disease, which causes more than half of the deaths in older people with diabetes. People with diabetes are

2 to 4 times likely to get heart disease. (Medical Statistics) They are 5 times as likely to have a stroke that