GMO's- Insulin production for diabetes By Elise L
About Diabetes
Diabetes is a serious and complex condition which can affect the entire body due to a bad functioning pancreas. Diabetes requires daily self-care. If complications develop with diabetes it can have an impact on the quality of life of the sufferer and can also reduce life expectancy. There is currently no cure for diabetes but with information and an awareness of how to manage it, the sufferer can live an enjoyable life.
There are three different types of diabetes; type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. All types are complex and serious.
The organs and systems involved in diabetes
The pancreas is the organ that is targeted in the treatment. One of the roles of the pancreas is to produce insulin. The pancreas is part of the endocrine system which is a collection of glands that regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sleep and mood, sexual function, reproduction and the digestive system which is the system that turns food and liquids into energy.
A healthy pancreas compared to a diseased pancreas
A healthy pancreas is able to produce the right chemicals, such as insulin, at the right time. It also keeps your blood sugar level constant. When glucose is absorbed and the amount in the bloodstream rises, the pancreas receives a signal to release insulin. The insulin then goes and opens spots for the glucose to enter and eventually creates the energy needed.
Insulin resistance is what causes the pancreas to become damaged in diabetics. Insulin resistance is when the muscle cells stop responding to insulin, therefore; the glucose cannot enter your muscles. As long as this is happening, the glucose level in your body rises. If the glucose in the blood stream is rising, the pancreas will continue to produce insulin until the glucose level goes down. If the muscle cells have become insulin resistant, they will never absorb the glucose and therefore, the levels will never go down and eventually the pancreas will just wear out.
How GMOs - insulin production for diabetes - is helping diabetes
Insulin injections are successfully treating diabetes. Insulin injections allow many cells, as well as the liver, to take in and store glucose normally. Some act quickly but only last a short period of time, while others take a while to act but they then last longer. Insulin can be given to the body in two ways. One option is for the diabetic to inject themselves with a needle when required. Alternatively, a pump is used to gradually produce it throughout the day.
This medical advance has been very successful because it works well with patients and it helps them get through everyday life. It is produced a lot quicker than it used to be when the insulin was taken out of animals. Many lives are being saved by this medical advance. If the insulin were not available, then people with diabetes would die.
Ethical Issues with GMOs - insulin production for diabetes
There are a couple of ethical issues with insulin being given. Firstly, religion can be an issue because some religions reject medical intervention. Originally, the insulin that was used came from pigs and cows. The pig source was an issue for those who reject the anything from a pig as part of their religious beliefs.
The second ethical issue is to do with animal rights. Originally, insulin was created through the killing of cows and pigs to obtain their pancreas. Very little insulin is produced this way today.
Genetic engineering issues include the alteration of animal DNA to produce human insulin. This can spark a lot of problems because animal proteins can cause allergies in some people. This can also incite another animal rights type debate.
With recent advancements in stem cell research, rejection of the insulin can be avoided by using the patient’s own DNA to produce their own stem cells through the cloning process where beta cells can be grown. This issue here is to do with cloning.
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