Diabetes and Insulin.

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Johnson

Shaun Johnson

MA 150 Anatomy & Physiology III
Dr. Lenore DiFiore

27 – October – 2008

Part 1

        Insulin is a hormone with concentrated effects on both metabolism and several other body systems (ie, vascular compliance). Insulin triggers nearly all the body's cells to take up glucose from the blood (including liver, muscle, and fat tissue cells), stockpiling it as glycogen in the liver and muscles, and prevents the use of fat as an energy source. In addition to its role in regulating glucose metabolism, insulin stimulates lipogenesis, diminishes lipolysis, and increases amino acid transport into cells. Insulin also modulates transcription, altering the cell content of numerous mRNAs. It stimulates growth, DNA synthesis, and cell replication, effects that it holds in common with the insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and relaxin (Michael W. King). When insulin is lacking, glucose is not taken up by most body cells and the body starts to use fat as an energy source (ie, transfer of lipids from adipose tissue to the liver for mobilization as an energy source).

        When people eat food or have a drink, besides water, the body breaks it down of the sugars and starches within the food or beverage into glucose. Insulin takes the glucose from the blood into the cells. When glucose levels increase in blood instead of going into cells, two problems can occur: cells could be starved for energy; and over time, high blood glucose levels may hurt a person’s eyes, kidneys, nerves, and heart (American Diabetes Association).

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        One startling statistic that I found interesting is that 5.7 million people, or nearly one quarter, within the United States are oblivious to the fact that they have diabetes (American Diabetes Association).

        Another statistic that shows that diabetes is starting to grow faster than AIDS is “There are 23.6 million people in the United States, or 8% of the population, who have diabetes. The total prevalence of diabetes increased 13.5% from 2005-2007. Only 24% of diabetes is undiagnosed, down from 30% in 2005 and from 50% ten years ago” (American Diabetes Association). With a stat like this, it ...

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