Diabetes Mellitus:
Broadly, Diabetes Mellitus (DM) is of two types-Type 1 and Type 2. In Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus, the insulin-producing cell of Pancreas is destroyed. As a result, the body lacks Insulin completely. In another type, there is insulin but the effectiveness of it is hampered due to various reasons. The end result of both types is manifested as a raised blood sugar level.
Pancreas: Factory of Insulin
The pancreas is an abdominal organ. It contains around 1,000,000 islets. More accurately it is called islands of Langerhans, as it was named after German physician Paul Langerhans in 1869. Each islet comprises of different types (4 types) of cells. Among them, Alfa, beta and delta cells are well recognized. This Beta-cell produces Insulin. In Type 1 DM, Beta cells are destroyed and unable to produce Insulin. Autoimmune destruction of the beta cells is the main reason behind this. Autoimmunity is a condition where the body’s immune system mistakenly (consider something in our body as non-self or foreign) attack and destroy part of other body systems.
Insulin: A hormone against many hormones
Insulin is one of the hormones of our body which fight against other hormones and maintain normal blood sugar level. It is produced from Beta cells of Islets of Langerhans of Pancreas. When there is an influx of glucose in bloodstream .e.g. after a heavy carbohydrate meal, insulin comes into action and pushes the excess glucose into various cells to be stored for later utilization. In type 2 DM, insulin can no longer push the glucose effectively into cells (like muscle cell or liver cell etc.).
Vitamin D: A vitamin with multiple functions
Vitamin D is one of the fat-soluble Vitamins in our body (Vitamin A, Vitamin D, Vitamin E and Vitamin K are fat-soluble vitamins while rests are water-soluble). It is also known as Sunshine Vitamin because it is produced by our body with the help of sun exposure. Various foods are a good source of Vitamin D mostly notably fish oil and fatty fish.
Relationship between type 1 DM and vitamin D:
A recent study has shown a promising relationship between Vitamin D and type-1 DM. A research conducted by Jill Norris (PhD) and his colleagues at Colorado School of Public Health at CU Anschutz in Aurora, CO which shows that children with less Vitamin D in their body are prone to the autoimmune destruction of islets cells in comparison with children with a higher level of Vitamin D.
The study included 8,676 children who were at higher risk of developing Type 1 DM considering genetic risk factors. For study purpose, blood was collected from each child every 3-6 month since infancy for 4 years. Tests were done to measure Vitamin D level and identify the development of islet autoimmunity. Among those children, 376 children developed islets autoimmunity. Later researchers compared their result with results of other children who didn’t develop islets autoimmunity and found that later children possessed a higher level of Vitamin D during their infancy and childhood.
From this study, it is firmly believed that Vitamin D has the potential to prevent the development of Type 1 DM.
Additional:
Some statistics on DM according to WHO:
- According to 2014 data, around 8.5% (422 million) of the world population is having DM while in 1980 it was only 4.7% or 108 million. 18 years plus people were counted.
- Strokes, heart attack, kidney disease, blindness, lower limbs amputation etc are in the top long lists of complications arise from DM. In 2015, 1.6 million people died due to the direct effect of DM
Few simple differences between Type 1 and Type 2 DM:
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