Type 1 Diabetes Research Paper

Diabetes, a disease affecting the pancreas and the body's supply of insulin, has risen 23% just between the years 2001-2009 and continues to rise. More than 15,000 children and 15,000 adults are diagnosed with type one diabetes each year. Research foundations such as JDRF, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, are trying to come up with a cure to end type one diabetes. JDRF, being the number one global organization fighting against diabetes, follow the motto “Less until None.” This motto meaning that they are going to progressively remove the impact of type one diabetes on the lives of many diabetics until there is a world with no type one diabetes. Diabetes causes many challenges, from everyday life challenges that those without diabetes

There are two types of diabetes; Type One, also known as juvenile-onset or insulin-dependent diabetes, and Type Two Diabetes, also known as adult-onset or non insulin-dependent diabetes. The main focus of this research is Type One Diabetes. Type One Diabetes occurs when your body’s immune system starts attacking the beta cells in the pancreas. A pancreas is a long, flat gland that releases enzymes to the small intestine to help with digestion, and has clusters of islets that produce hormones such as insulin and glucagon. In these islets, there are cells called beta cells. Beta cells make up approximately 65-80% of these islets and produce insulin; a hormone that helps the body move the glucose from food into cells that are then used for energy. Once the body’s immune system begins seeing these cells as foreign substances, it begins attacking and destroying these cells. Without beta cells, there is no insulin produced, causing glucose to stay in the blood, which could result in harm to all other organs of the body, and also causing the person to have Type One

Retinopathy, the most serious and common eye related complication related to diabetes, destroys the small blood vessels in the retina, causing vision problems. If retinopathy worsens to proliferative retinopathy, it can cause blindness. Approximately 20-30 percent of all type one diabetics develop proliferative retinopathy, and almost all diabetics show symptoms of having some stage of diabetic retinopathy after having diabetes for twenty years. Another complication diabetes can cause is neuropathy. Neuropathy is nerve damage that leads to loss of feelings and pains in the feet, legs, arms and hands. More than 60% of type one diabetics are affected by neuropathy, and it can range from being a slight inconvenience, to a major disability, and in some cases, lead to death. Autonomic neuropathy occurs when high glucose levels damage the autonomic nervous system causing digestive problems, rapid heartbeat, low blood pressure and other malfunctions. Another serious complication of T1D, is Nephropathy. Nephropathy affects about ⅓ of diabetics and is the slow deterioration of kidneys and their functions. Nephropathy can also be known as ESRD, and can lead to kidney failure. Hypoglycemia, another complication from