Diabetes

Definition

Diabetes is a chronic condition characterized by high levels of glucose in the blood due to the body's inability to produce or effectively use insulin. It can lead to serious health complications if not managed properly.

5 Must Know Facts For Your Next Test

1. Diabetes can affect immune system function, making individuals more susceptible to microbial infections.
2. Hyperglycemia in diabetes creates a favorable environment for certain pathogens to thrive, influencing microbial growth.
3. In diabetic patients, impaired blood circulation and nerve damage increase the risk of infection and delay wound healing.
4. Pathogens like bacteria and fungi can exploit the weakened immune responses in diabetics, leading to increased pathogenicity.
5. Autoimmune disorders such as Type 1 diabetes result from the immune system mistakenly attacking insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.

Review Questions

• How does hyperglycemia in diabetes influence microbial growth?
• Why are diabetic patients more susceptible to infections?
• What role does autoimmune response play in Type 1 diabetes?

Related terms

Insulin:

A hormone that regulates blood glucose levels by facilitating cellular uptake of glucose.

Hyperglycemia: An abnormally high level of glucose in the blood, commonly associated with diabetes.

Pathogenicity:

The ability of a microorganism to cause disease by overcoming host defenses.