Saturday, February 12, 2011

Could diabetes ever be an advantage in an environment


Could diabetes ever be an advantage in an environment?
Could it? Diabetes is generally this, skip it if you know what it is. Diabetes mellitus (IPA: /ˌdaɪəˈbiːtiːz/ or /ˌdaɪəˈbiːtəs/, /məˈlaɪtəs/ or /ˈmɛlətəs/), often referred to simply as diabetes (Ancient Greek: διαβαίνειν "to pass through"), is a syndrome of disordered metabolism, usually due to a combination of hereditary and environmental causes, resulting in abnormally high blood sugar levels (hyperglycemia).[2] Blood glucose levels are controlled by a complex interaction of multiple chemicals and hormones in the body, including the hormone insulin made in the beta cells of the pancreas. Diabetes mellitus refers to the group of diseases that lead to high blood glucose levels due to defects in either insulin secretion or insulin action. [3] Diabetes develops due to a diminished production of insulin (in type 1) or resistance to its effects (in type 2 and gestational).[4] Both lead to hyperglycaemia, which largely causes the acute signs of diabetes: excessive urine production, resulting compensatory thirst and increased fluid intake, blurred vision, unexplained weight loss, lethargy, and changes in energy metabolism. Monogenic forms, e.g. MODY, constitute 1-5 % of all cases. So now lets say there's an organism that is in a low sugar environment, could it be a good thing?
Biology - 2 Answers
Random Answers, Critics, Comments, Opinions :
1 :
I am diabetic and have recently had to start insulin. I don't think there is any advantages to having diabetes. It is frustrating most of the time and I hate being diabetic.
2 :
Well the classic answer is (or at least used to be) that if your ancient ancestors lived in times of feast or famine, having higher blood sugar would tide them over for a few days till they ate next. Then it got out of hand (evolutionarily) so it became fatal if untreated (at least Type I). Since 1921 we've been working against evolution by giving ourselves insulin so we can grow up and have kids, perpetuating the genes.







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Posted by Diabetes Melitus at 1:28 PM