Diabetes mellitus occurs when the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin hormone, or when the insulin produced doesn’t work effectively.
Type-1 Diabetes: The Langerhans Islets in the Pancreas which are responsible for production of insulin get destroyed, causing severe lack of insulin and also Immune System starts destroying insulin making cells (Beta cells) in the Pancreas. It is normally called juvenile diabetes since it is mostly prevalent in children.
Type-2 Diabetes is due to:
a. the receptors on cells that normally respond to insulin fail to be stimulated by it – this is known as insulin resistance. As a result, production of insulin is increased thereby insulin-producing cells in the pancreas get overworked;
b. Insulin is insufficient in the body; and
c. the insulin that is available may be abnormal and therefore doesn’t work properly.
Risk Factors:
- Increasing age;
- Obesity;
- Lack of physical inactivity.
- Certain medicines side effects;
- Pregnancy (gestational diabetes);
- Illness or disease that damages the pancreas and affects its ability to produce insulin e.g. pancreatitis.
Treatment:
Sujok treatment will differ for Type-1 or Type-2 diabetes. In Type-1 diabetes, the aim is to activate the pancreas to produce insulin whereas in Type-2 diabetes, the aim is not only to increase the efficiency of pancreas to produce quality insulin but also accelerate the synthesizing process of insulin in liver as well as increasing the absorbing capacity of digestive system.
