Diabetes: Biology 1 Research Project
Kytela Medearis
Biology I
13 March 2013
Diabetes Mellitus: Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia. Most of us love sugar, right? We love coming home and just snacking on the yummiest foods we can find, foods that are not particularly good for us. When Halloween comes around we cannot wait to fill our pillowcases with candy, and go home and stuff our faces with all of the goodies. But did you know that people who are diabetic aren’t able to do that? Before eating anything; they have to check their blood glucose levels, and then take medicine for the food they are eating. For the diabetics who are impatient, this is not a very fun process to go through, but it is necessary for them to live. Type 1 Diabetes, is usually diagnosed before a person turns 20, which is why it is known as to being juvenile diabetes as well. Our bodies turn carbohydrates into glucose, which glucose is important to our body because it provides energy. The glucose spreads throughout our body into our cells through our bloodstream, and then the pancreas takes over in the use of glucose. Beta cells in the pancreas produce a hormone called insulin, and the insulin allows glucose to pass into the body’s cells. (Peacock 1) However, if a person is a Type 1 diabetic the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or just none at all. (Peacock 2) Which, if there is not enough insulin when you eat, then you can become hyperglycemic, but on the other hand if you take to much insulin then you can become hypoglycemic. Hyperglycemia, also known as being high blood sugar, is a condition in which a diabetic’s blood sugar is higher than normal. This is a major problem in diabetics and unfortunately very common. There can be many different reasons why their blood sugar could have risen above its normal stature: skipping medicine, not taking enough medicine, a problem with their insulin pump (A pump helps in the process of injecting insulin into your body.), eating too much food, drinking too many high-sugar drinks, not
Biology I
13 March 2013
Diabetes Mellitus: Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia. Most of us love sugar, right? We love coming home and just snacking on the yummiest foods we can find, foods that are not particularly good for us. When Halloween comes around we cannot wait to fill our pillowcases with candy, and go home and stuff our faces with all of the goodies. But did you know that people who are diabetic aren’t able to do that? Before eating anything; they have to check their blood glucose levels, and then take medicine for the food they are eating. For the diabetics who are impatient, this is not a very fun process to go through, but it is necessary for them to live. Type 1 Diabetes, is usually diagnosed before a person turns 20, which is why it is known as to being juvenile diabetes as well. Our bodies turn carbohydrates into glucose, which glucose is important to our body because it provides energy. The glucose spreads throughout our body into our cells through our bloodstream, and then the pancreas takes over in the use of glucose. Beta cells in the pancreas produce a hormone called insulin, and the insulin allows glucose to pass into the body’s cells. (Peacock 1) However, if a person is a Type 1 diabetic the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or just none at all. (Peacock 2) Which, if there is not enough insulin when you eat, then you can become hyperglycemic, but on the other hand if you take to much insulin then you can become hypoglycemic. Hyperglycemia, also known as being high blood sugar, is a condition in which a diabetic’s blood sugar is higher than normal. This is a major problem in diabetics and unfortunately very common. There can be many different reasons why their blood sugar could have risen above its normal stature: skipping medicine, not taking enough medicine, a problem with their insulin pump (A pump helps in the process of injecting insulin into your body.), eating too much food, drinking too many high-sugar drinks, not
Cited: Peacock, Judith. Diabetes. Capstone, 2000. Print. Cooper, Phyllis. “Diabetes: Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia).” CRS - Adult Health Advisor (2012): 1. Health Source – Consumer Edition. June 2012. Online. Developed by: RelayHealth. “Diabetes: High Blood Sugar (Hyperglycemia).” CRS – Adult Health Advisor (2012): 1. Health Source – Consumer Edition. June 2012. Online.