What´s Homeostasis?

Homeostasis is the human body’s maintenance of stable, constant internal conditions. To achieve this equilibrium consistently in various environmental circumstances, internal and external factors are monitored and altered as the body requires. Different types of receptors are responsible for detecting specific environmental stimuli. For example Chemoreceptors detect changes in chemical concentrations within the blood (eg. Carbon Dioxide (CO2), pH and Oxygen (O2)) and Mechanoreceptors detect sound, touch and pressure. The nervous system and the endocrine (hormonal) system both act as regulatory pathways, linked primarily by the hypothalamus and pituitary gland in the brain. They are used by the body to communicate disturbances in response to environmental changes. In this way, it is possible for homeostasis to be achieved through the complex mechanisms of the internal body structure.

Sometimes, the body is not able to regulate its internal conditions, this is called homeostatic imbalance. This can be caused for a number of reasons including virus intervention, hereditary glitches and bodily impairments. Usually it is because of a disease that stops one or more of the homeostatic responses. Blood glucose levels are one of the most important aspects that are measured and responded to during homeostasis.

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Every function of the human body requires energy, this is primarily sourced from a simple sugar or monosaccharide called glucose (C6H12O6). The concentration of glucose within the blood is measured my chemoreceptors and is determined firstly by the intake of carbohydrates. In a healthy human being without any diabetic condition, preprandial (before a meal), the concentration of glucose in the blood is...

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The most recent method of diabetes disease prevention involves preventing type 1 diabetes after the patients’ pancreas is removed. Particularly in the case of pancreatitis, sometimes it is essential for the pancreas to be removed. Unfortunately this would mean that, due to the loss of insulin production, the person would become diabetic. However, Autologous Islet Cell Re-implantation is a new option being experimented with which many people could benefit from in the future. This involves the removal and cleansing of the islets of Langerhans, directly from the subject, before being re-implanted. However, the success of this procedure is dependant of the number or quality β cells available for implantation. Although this is a new method which still has a long way to go, it is a promising and exciting idea for future pancreatectomy patients.