We all have someone in the family or in relatives who is diabetic and who always avoids sugary foods. Guess what? A diabetic person cannot even eat white sauce pasta.
When we talk about endocrine disorders diabetes is the most common one. But have you ever considered why the endocrine system is related to diabetes and not another body part? Let us dive deep into it.
The reason behind diabetes is that your body does not produce enough insulin and can’t use insulin properly. This results in high blood sugar levels. To know how this happens we have to first start from the beginning.
Endocrine System: What Is It And How Does It Function?
You know how your workplace works, right? In every organisation, there is a superior who passes instructions and the other members start working according to them. Seems like something similar is happening here as well.
What Is The Endocrine System?
Here is how we will make it simple for you to understand how endocrine systems work:
Releasing Hormones
Our endocrine system releases hormones in the bloodstream, they start travelling and reaching to the cells throughout the body.
These hormones help in controlling mood, growth and development, the way our organs work, metabolism and reproduction, all depend on hormones.
Communication With Cells
Just like your superior, hormones tell cells to perform specific actions. This is done because your hormones act as chemical messengers.
Regulating Hormones Levels
Your endocrine system regulates how much of each hormone is released, based on levels of other hormones or substances in the blood.
Work With Other Systems
Your endocrine system works with the nervous and immune systems to help the body respond to stress and other events. This helps coordinate and regulate various functions.
Just like you work as a team and perform various tasks.Endocrine System: How Does The Pancreas Work?
The pancreas’s endocrine function is to regulate blood sugar levels. See the brief information here:
Endocrine Function
Our pancreas’ endocrine portion is made of clusters of cells, islets of Langerhans. These islets contain different types of cells that produce hormones. These include insulin and glucagon.
A hormone that helps regulate blood sugar levels is insulin. This is done by moving glucose from the blood into cells where it can be used for energy.
Glucagon hormone is released by the pancreas when blood sugar is low. Glucagon raises blood sugar levels.
A hormone that regulates the endocrine system, gastrointestinal tract and cell proliferation is somatostatin. Somatostatin is also known as growth hormone. The delta cells in the pancreas produce this hormone.
Endocrine System And Diabetes Relation
Insulin deficiency is the main cause of diabetes. This deficiency occurs when the pancreas does not produce enough insulin or the body can not use insulin effectively.
Diabetes can affect the endocrine system. Without insulin, your body cannot use glucose.
You have already seen above that the endocrine system is responsible for the production and balance of hormones in the body. Diabetes can disturb this balance.
How Type 1 And Type 2 Diabetes Affect Pacereas?
Our pancreas is responsible for regulating blood sugar levels by producing enough insulin. Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes directly impact this function of our pancreas:
Type 1 Diabetes
This type of diabetes attacks the body’s immune system and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. This leads to a complete lack of insulin production.
Without enough insulin, blood sugar levels rise uncontrollably. This can cause serious health issues.
Type 2 Diabetes
In this type, the pancreas can still produce insulin, but the body’s cells are not affected by its effects. Insulin resistance prevents the entry of glucose into cells leading to high blood sugar levels.
With time, the pancreas may also fail to produce enough insulin to meet the body’s needs.
We hope it is clear how your endocrine system is related to diabetes.
Who Can Help To Treat Diabetes?
Well, talking about treating diabetes, the best out of the rest who can treat diabetes are endocrinologists. Although there are other options available, diabetes is a condition that only an endocrinologist can deal with.
An endocrinologist is the best to treat diabetes in many ways:
- An endocrinologist can help diagnose diabetes and other complications.
- An endocrinologist can create personalised treatment plans to manage your diabetes in the best way and achieve better blood sugar control.
- Your endocrinologist can help you find the best medications to deal with diabetes.
- With regular monitoring and early intervention, an endocrinologist can help you prevent or manage complications related to diabetes.
Endocrinologists in Brisbane can be the best choice for treating diabetes.