3) THE BASIC CAUSES OF TYPE 2 DIABETES
j) Beta Cell Death in Type 2 Diabetes
Beta cells in the Pancreas are the cells which produce insulin. In most type 2 insulin cases, there are adequate numbers of beta cells initially in the disease. The insulin just can't get into the body's cells because of insulin resistance. But then the number of beta cells starts to decline. In type 2 diabetes the beta cells in the pancreas typically die as the disease progresses. Since the beta cells are the producers of insulin, lack of insulin becomes more and more of a problem as the disease progresses. Why this occurs is the source of a lot of research but little conclusive results. There are at least the following possibilities:
1. the cause of cell death is protein poisoning ("glycation") by high sugar levels in the blood
2. because of insulin resistance, the pancreas produces excess amounts of another hormone called amylin. Amylin tends to aggregate and destroy the insulin-producing cells.
3. if the beta cells have to produce large amounts of insulin they "burn out"
4. the cause of beta cell death is a combination of genetics, weight and inactivity
5. fat tissue releases hormones (leptins) and blood fats (lipoproteins) which cause the beta cell death
6. deposits of "islet amyloid polypeptide" on or around the beta cells kill the cells
7. the cause of death is high insulin levels in the blood caused by insulin resistance
8. some medications contribute to beta cell death
9. autoimmune disorders
10. because of genetics, each beta cell can only produce just so much insulin, then it dies
11. any of the above in combination, it varies by individualThere are basically three camps of thought, 1, that sugar induced protein poisoning ("glycation") cause's beta cell death (a view shared by the majority of the endocrinologists), 2, that the beta cells burn out when they have to produce large amounts of insulin, and 3, that it is a very complex picture that varies by individual. The arguments are not trivial. There are several classes of drugs which stimulate the beta cells in the pancreas into producing more insulin. These drugs will prevent the death of beta cells if the glycation theory is correct and these same drugs will accelerate the death of the beta cells if the "burn out" theory is correct. Note there are no research studies which have found that these beta cell stimulating medications accelerate the course of type 2 diabetes. For now, the best way to control beta cell death can be said to be blood sugar control. As for medication, a doctor's advice should be followed.
It is vital to realize that beta cells do not regenerate themselves. Once a beta cell dies, that's it. So anyone who has type 2 diabetes has a huge reason for not allowing their blood sugar to ever get out of control ("control" being going much above 150 mg/dl). As long as there are a reasonable number of functioning beta cells, weight reduction and exercise can reduce and sometimes even eliminate the need for insulin and other diabetes medication. And the progress of the disease can be considerably slowed down if not stopped altogether. But once the number of beta cells drop below a critical point, that reversal is no longer possible. So it is very dangerous for anyone with type 2 diabetes to play the "tommorrow I'll start my program" game. Tommorrow may be too late. The earlier control measures are instituted, the better the outcome.
Current Chapter: 3) THE BASIC CAUSES OF TYPE 2 DIABETES
a) Underlying Mechanism of Type 2 Diabetes
b) Symptoms of Type 2 Diabetes
c) Tests for Diabetes
d) Insulin Resistance
e) The Complexity of Diabetes
f) Poisoning of Body Protein
g) Diabetes, Protein Poisoning and Cognitive Thinking
h) Protein Poisoning and A1c
i) Well Cooked Meat and Protein Poisoning
j) Beta Cell Death in Type 2 Diabetes
k) The Hypoglycemic Spike Effect
l) The "Dawn Phenomenon"
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