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BIRTH DEFECTS DIABETES MELLITUS There are hundreds of different kinds of birth defects, and diabetes mellitus is one of the most common birth defects that exists. Not all birth defects are apparent at birth but diabetes can be detected at a very young age and sometimes even in utero. In the past, little could be done to improve the chances of having a healthy baby. Today, organizations continually fund research into the cause, prevention, and treatment of all types of birth defects. Diabetes affects more than 100 million people worldwide, and it is among the most common causes of death and disability in North America and Europe. It is such a common disease that is taken lightly by many people, but ultimately leads to serious complications over time. Diabetes mellitus is a disease where the body’s cells cannot use glucose properly for lack of or resistance to the hormone insulin, produced by the pancreas (The Complete Canadian Health Guide, p459). The three distinct types of diabetes are Type I, Type II, and gestational diabetes in which all acquire similar diagnosis and treatment, symptoms, causes, and complications. What is Type I diabetes? Type I, or insulin-dependent diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. In type I the person has either completely stopped making insulin or only makes a very small amount of the hormone. Without insulin the body’s cells cannot utilize glucose and remains in a state of starvation, regardless of how much the person eats. This is why people with this disease must take insulin on a daily basis. The insulin is injected beneath the skin into the body’s subcutaneous tissue (Diabetes, p16). Untreated type I affects the metabolism of fat. Since the body cannot convert glucose into energy, it begins to break down stored fat for fuel (Encarta Encyclopedia 99, p2).
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