Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 Research Paper Example

Diabetes Mellitus Type 1 Characteristics and Symptoms

Diabetes mellitus type one (DBM1) is a chronic disease, which affects how the pancreas produces insulin. In this case, the organ does not release adequate insulin required for the production of glucose used for body cell functioning. The disorder occurs when the body significantly damages pancreatic beta cells that are necessary for the production of insulin (American Diabetes Association, 2014). The condition leads to a lack of insulin production, which causes an insulin deficiency.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Common symptoms for DBM1 include increased thirst throughout the day. Secondly, victims urinate frequently. Thirdly, feelings of thrilling hunger, short temper, and fatigue are also present in DBM1. The symptoms vary regarding the stage of illness. Noticeably, emergency symptoms associated with DBM1 include loss of consciousness, rapid breathing, stomachache, and fruity smelly breath. According to (American Diabetes Association (2014), the symptoms arise since the body cells are unable to utilize glucose; thus, a significant amount of it remains in the blood. Consequently, the body struggles to eliminate the excess glucose via urine. Notably, individuals living with diabetes often discharge colored urine due to the presence of glucose. The main disposing risk factors include lifestyle and genes.

Based on a recent study by the Canadian Chronic Disease Surveillance System (CCDSS), about three million Canadians are living with diabetes. The statistics account for 8.1% of the country's population (Government of Canada, 2017). The chronic disease affects individuals across all age groups. For instance, one in every three hundred children and youths, and one in every ten adults are living with DBM1 in the country. The prevalence of the disorder increases with advancement in age and is more common in males than females (Government of Canada, 2017). The condition is significant to the nation since the country raises funds to assist in the treatment and management of diabetes given that it has no scientific documented cure.

Research Development

The actual cause of diabetes type 1 remains a debated topic in the world of medicine. For an extended period, researchers have believed that DBM1 is caused by the destruction of pancreatic beta cells by the T-cells. Nevertheless, recent researches have proved that the T-cells do not initiate the destruction process; instead, the presence of neoepitopes in Beta cells triggers the antibody action (James et al., 2018). According to Christoffersson et al.'s (2016) recent study of the pancreatic tissue obtained from DBM1 victims, there was a decline in the mass of beta cells among patients after one year of diagnosis. Notably, insulitis has been described as a heterogeneous condition in human beings; thus, implying that the T-cells do not start the cell destruction.

According to James et al. (2018), the formation of neoepitopes activates immune cells that start a destruction loop that promote the autoimmune action towards beta cells. Neoepitopes are produced via multiple processes in the human body. Firstly, posttranslational enzymatic processes such as glycosylation, methylation, hydroxylation, acetylation, transglutamination, and citrullination are involved in the generation of neoepitope (James et al., 2018). Secondly, non-enzymatic posttranslational processes also play a crucial role in the production of the neoantigen. They include carboxylation and oxidation. For instance, an oxidized proinsulin peptide was the first documented neoepitope generated from a beta cell. Additionally, carboxylation yields protein carbonylation that causes significant stress to the beta cells.

Thirdly, dysfunctional ribosomal initiation products (DRiPs) in Beta cells are responsible for the production of neoepitopes. The DRiPs are transferred to the cell surface causing a cytotoxic reaction that triggers action of T-cells on the beta cells. Fourthly, James et al. (2018) note that neoepitopes production may arise from processes, such as RNA splicing, epigenetics, and protein translation. Additionally, the author proposes that inflammatory processes in the body tissues can lead to the formation of neoepitopes. The inflammation may arise from cigarette smokes, pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, and biochemical stresses. The formed neoantigens trigger the body's autoimmune system, which destroys the damaged cells.

The pathogenesis of DBM1 begins when people who have a significant genetic risk are exposed to factors such as bacteria and viruses, which promote loss of tolerance in the immune system that is evident with the appearance of GAD and insulin antibodies. As a result, the spread of epitopes in the body increases raising the number of antigenic target sites. A forward loop is created that facilitates antigen release, which causes more inflammation of the beta cells. Consequently, more T-cells are formed, which act on specific active sites on the beta cells; thus destroying them. The condition leads to insulin deficiency; hence, the occurrence of diabetes mellitus. If the situation is not managed appropriately, it may lead to hyperglycemia.

Discussion on How These Recent Research Developments May Influence Clinical Practice Either Now or in The Future

The recent research findings on the cause of DBM1 play a critical role in the management and treatment of the disorder. Since the formation of neoepitopes is influenced by inflammation due to environmental and genetic factors such as insulin VNTR, researchers can formulate methods to reduce the problem; thus eliminate initiation of DBM1. Furthermore, the discovery shed more light on the lifestyle cause of diabetes, for example, cigarette smoking promotes cell inflammation, which initiates the formation of epitopes. Therefore, physicians can advise their patients to refrain from such practices to safeguard their health. Additionally, the research will substantially affect the diagnosis procedure of diabetes across the world. Noticeable in the future, scientists may utilize the knowledge to create medicine that will prevent the formation of neoepitopes in human cells.

References

American Diabetes Association. (2014). Diagnosis and classification of diabetes mellitus. Diabetes care, 37(1), 81-90.

Christoffersson, G., Rodriguez-Calvo, T., & von Herrath, M. (2016). Recent advances in understanding Type 1 Diabetes. F1000Research, 5, F1000 Faculty Rev-110. doi:10.12688/f1000research.7356.1

Government of Canada. (14 Nov. 2017). Diabetes in Canada. Retrieved from https://www.canada.ca/en/public-health/services/publications/diseases-conditions/diabetes-canada-highlights-chronic-disease-surveillance-system.html

James, E. A., Pietropaolo, M., & Mamula, M. J. (2018). Immune Recognition of v-Cells: Neoepitopes as Key Players in the Loss of Tolerance. Diabetes, 67(6), 1035-1042. Retrieved from http://diabetes.diabetesjournals.org/content/67/6/1035