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Diabetes
What is Diabetes?
Diabetes mellitus is a group of conditions characterized by the inability to regulate blood glucose levels and affects hundreds of millions of people worldwide. While typically chronic, the disease can interfere significantly with an individual’s daily life but may be preventable depending on the specific condition. When left uncontrolled, the resulting hyperglycemia (elevated blood glucose) can cause severe organ damage and even death. As cases of diabetes continue to rise globally, research continues to investigate the causes of diabetes, earlier detection of diabetes, improved treatment options, and potential cures. However, this has been complicated given the differences among diabetes types. Here, we dive into four of the most common diabetes conditions and what is currently known about each.
Types of Diabetes
Type 1 Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes (T1D), also referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes, typically onsets during childhood. This condition’s cause is still relatively unknown; however, onset has been associated with certain genetic risk factors as well as environmental exposures (i.e., viral infections). Unfortunately, no cure has been found to date and the condition can be extremely debilitating and disruptive for both the diagnosed individual and their loved ones. Because of T1D’s dependence on supplemental insulin, individuals with T1D must monitor their blood sugar throughout the day and dose insulin accordingly. This is due to the immune system’s destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic islet cells, although this mechanism is still under investigation. The destruction of this critical source of insulin prevents glucose, a major source of energy for cells, from being able to be transported into cells and removed from the bloodstream. When left uncontrolled, T1D can lead to the degradation of major organs in the body, so current treatment approaches are aimed at slowing the progression of islet cell death and prevention of disease onset.
Type 2 Diabetes
Unlike type 1 diabetes (T1D), type 2 diabetes is typically considered adult-onset diabetes and occurs when cells either become resistant to insulin or the pancreas cannot consistently produce enough insulin to regular blood glucose levels. However, similarly to T1D, what causes this dysregulation is unknown. Known predisposing factors for type 2 diabetes include being overweight, inactive, and having a parent or sibling with type 2 diabetes. Additionally, because there is no cure for type 2 diabetes currently, physicians have focused on monitoring at-risk individuals for initial signs of insulin resistance and promoting healthy lifestyles. Like T1D, uncontrolled blood glucose levels, irrespective of the cause, can have detrimental effects on the organs and eventual death. Research has been successful with the identification of medications to help reduce the risk of disease in at-risk individuals, but these individuals must be caught early and are best utilized in adults who are unable to make lifestyle changes.
Prediabetes
As mentioned previously, individuals at risk for the development of type 2 diabetes can be monitored for signs of pre-clinical diabetes, also referred to as “prediabetes”. People with known risk factors (i.e., a family history of type 2 diabetes, overweight, inactive, etc.) can be tested for blood glucose abnormalities and if these levels are elevated above normal, but outside type 2 diabetes ranges, they are considered prediabetic. At this stage, physicians can prescribe metformin, a diabetes drug, to reduce the risk of progression to diabetes. In addition to medication, physicians will typically push increases in physical activity, improvements in diet, and decreases in stress to reduce the risk for progression to type 2 disease.
Gestational Diabetes
Finally, gestational diabetes is unique in that this condition affects a portion of pregnant women who did not have diabetes before pregnancy. This condition is primarily caused by defective insulin production and insulin resistance caused by hormonal changes induced during gestation. Surprisingly, gestational diabetes does not have any symptoms and has become part of routine testing throughout pregnancy (typically around 24-28 weeks). If positive, physicians may prescribe supplemental insulin or metformin to lower blood glucose levels and monitor the baby’s growth and development. Fortunately, most women’s blood glucose will return to normal following delivery, however, a large portion may be predisposed to the development of type 2 diabetes later in life. To prevent the development of gestational diabetes (and further development of type 2 diabetes following delivery), research has demonstrated maintaining a healthy weight before pregnancy and following delivery will reduce these risks.
Common Antibodies Used in Diabetes Research
If you or your research group are conducting research in a diabetes-related field, please get in touch for a consultation to discuss your reagent needs.