General Information About Diabetes Mellitus

This page describes the general aspects of diabetes mellitus and how this disease actually affects normal bodily funcion. There are two different types of diabetes mellitus, Type 1 and Type 2, each of which affects the body in a very different way. However, both of these versions of the disease create a similar effect, making the body unable to handle its blood sugar level efficiently.

Type 1 Diabetes

Although still little is known about the actual causes of Type 1 Diabetes, much more is known about the exact causes of Type 1 than Type 2. The particular cause of Type 2 Diabetes is still unknown. Although still partially a mystery, the main cause of Type 1 Diabetes most likely stems from a virus or other unknown environmental trigger that causes an immune response in the body. This immune response attacks the pancreas' beta cells that produce insulin, called islet cells, for unknown reasons. Many people with a predisposition for Type 1 Diabetes produce antibodies for these islet cells for whatever reason. The production of these antibodies allows the immune system to malfunction and begin to attack islet cells as if they were a foreign virus or bacterial agent.

Source: JDRF Kids Online: What is Diabetes?

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes affects the body in a very different way than Type 1 Diabetes does. In the case of Type 2 Diabetes, nothing affects the islet cells of the pancreas, and insulin is produced normally in nearly all cases of Type 2 Diabetes. However, in this case, the body becomes resistant to insulin, thus negating the effect of the body's own insulin.

Normally, cells accept insulin as a transport method for sugars.

In the case of Type 2 Diabetes, the body becomes to insulin.

Source: "Types of Diabetes Mellitus"