Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that affects approximately 1 million Australians. It affects how the body uses glucose, a sugar that is the body’s main source of fuel. For the body to work properly it needs to be able to convert glucose into energy, the way the body does this is using a hormone called insulin. The pancreas is a gland bellow the stomach that produces insulin. In people with diabetes, the pancreas either doesn't produced insulin or the insulin doesn't work properly. Therefore when glucose is consumed it can’t be converted into energy, so then the glucose stays in the blood. This can lead to high level of glucose in the blood, which can make people sick. If diabetes is poorly looked after or undetected, it can lead to stroke, impotence, lower limb amputation, blindness, kidney failure and heart attack. There are two main types of diabetes, they are type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes.
How does diabetes affect the body systems?
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes have the same effects on the body’s systems. Diabetes can affect many different systems including nervous system, digestive system, circulatory system and excretory system. The eyes are part of the nervous system, the blood vessels in them can be damaged by poorly managed diabetes having diabetes. Damaged nerves can also lead to numbness, pain and tingling especially in the feet, this can lead to lower limb amputation. The heart is part of the circularity system, if a person has diabetes they are twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke. The kidneys and liver are part of the excretory system, having diabetes makes the kidneys work harder and it can mean that your liver may have trouble processing fats.
How do the body systems impact on each other?
All of the body’s systems are dependent on each other in order to keep the body working. If one body system is not working properly then it can affect how the whole body functions. An example of this is in the digestive system, if the pancreas doesn't produce insulin or it doesn't produce enough insulin then the blood sugar levels will be very high and have an effect on how the whole body functions.
Is it life-threatening and can you recover from it?
Type 1 and 2 diabetes are both potentially life-threatening. If a person doesn't treat their diabetes then they could have a heart attack or stroke possibly leading to death. A person cannot recover from type 1 or 2 diabetes, once you have diabetes you have it for life.
How does diabetes affect the body systems?
Type 1 and type 2 diabetes have the same effects on the body’s systems. Diabetes can affect many different systems including nervous system, digestive system, circulatory system and excretory system. The eyes are part of the nervous system, the blood vessels in them can be damaged by poorly managed diabetes having diabetes. Damaged nerves can also lead to numbness, pain and tingling especially in the feet, this can lead to lower limb amputation. The heart is part of the circularity system, if a person has diabetes they are twice as likely to have a heart attack or stroke. The kidneys and liver are part of the excretory system, having diabetes makes the kidneys work harder and it can mean that your liver may have trouble processing fats.
How do the body systems impact on each other?
All of the body’s systems are dependent on each other in order to keep the body working. If one body system is not working properly then it can affect how the whole body functions. An example of this is in the digestive system, if the pancreas doesn't produce insulin or it doesn't produce enough insulin then the blood sugar levels will be very high and have an effect on how the whole body functions.
Is it life-threatening and can you recover from it?
Type 1 and 2 diabetes are both potentially life-threatening. If a person doesn't treat their diabetes then they could have a heart attack or stroke possibly leading to death. A person cannot recover from type 1 or 2 diabetes, once you have diabetes you have it for life.
