Insulin-dependent Diabetes is a disorder in which the body does not produce enough insulin and is, therefore, unable to convert nutrients into the energy necessary for daily activity. The disorder affects females and males approximately equally. Although the causes of insulin-dependent diabetes are not known, genetic factors seem to play a role. Symptomatology --- Normally, sugars and starches (carbohydrates) in the foods we eat are processed by digestive juices into glucose. Glucose circulates in the blood as a major energy source for body functions. Its use is regulated primarily by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas gland (located behind the stomach). In the person with diabetes, there is a malfunction in the production of insulin. There are two main types of diabetes: Type I or Insulin-Dependent and Type II or Noninsulin-Dependent. The insulin-dependent type of diabetes generally has onset during childhood or adolescence, though it can occur at any age. Because the pancreas supplies little or no insulin in this disease, daily injections of the hormone and a controlled diet are necessary to regulate blood sugar levels. Insulin is generally effective in preventing glucose buildup, but it is a treatment and not a cure for diabetes. The onset of Insulin-Dependent Diabetes begins with frequent urination, extreme thirst, constant hunger, and unexplained weight loss. Because people with Type I Diabetes lack sufficient insulin, glucose accumulates in the blood to levels too high for the kidneys to excrete. In an effort to remove the excess sugar, the kidneys excrete large amounts of water as well as essential body elements resulting in frequent urination, thirst, and weakness. Hunger and fatigue are caused by the body's inability to utilize foods properly for nourishment and energy. To find alternate sources of energy, the body turns to its stores of fat and protein, causing weight loss and the accumulation of fat breakdown produ...
