diabetes

[Guest guest]

RP has a high risk factor for persons developing diabetes. There are two types.

Type 1 which has two forms or causes. And Type 2.

I have developed Type 1 and the cause was not directly linked to pred. but back

to the immune process that attacks the pancreas.

The following article is from the American Diabetes association and can be found

at http://www.diabetes.org/ada/Type1.asp.

There main page is http://www.diabetes.org

Insulin-Dependent Diabetes

There are two main kinds of diabetes. You have insulin-dependent diabetes. It is

also called Type I diabetes. It used to be called juvenile diabetes (even though

adults get it too).

You did not catch diabetes from someone else. Instead, insulin-dependent

diabetes is caused by damage to the pancreas. The pancreas is an organ near your

stomach. The pancreas contains cells called beta cells. Beta cells have a vital

job: they make insulin, a hormone that helps cells take in the glucose they

need.

Sometimes, the beta cells get wiped out and cannot produce insulin anymore.

Without insulin, glucose stays in the blood instead of going into cells.

Many things might have killed your beta cells, but in most people with

insulin-dependent diabetes, the immune system makes a mistake. Cells that should

protect you from germs instead attack your beta cells. The beta cells die.

Without beta cells, you make no insulin. Glucose builds up in your blood, and

you get diabetes.

R.