Pathogenesis and Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus

Radder, J.K.; Lemkes, H.H.P.J.; Krans, H.M.J.

In this book on diabetes mellitus both the pathogenesis and treat­ ment of the disease will be discussed. Pathogenetic studies have led to the distinction between type I and type II diabetes. In type I hyperglycaemia is due predominantly to insulin deficiency; in type II insulin resistance is more important. Three pathogenetic factors are thought to play a role in the etiol­ ogy of type I diabetes: heredity, viral infections and immunity. There may be a relationship between these three aspects since genetic pre­ disposition changes the susceptibility to viral infections and/or the immunological defence against these infections. Insulitis ensues. Auto­ immune processes initiated by this chain of events may contribute to the destruction of the B cells in the islets of Langerhans and diabetes -may eventually follow. This means that at the time of the sudden out­ break of the disease, the destructive process has already been active for years.

Details

Published by: Springer

Publication Date: 2011-09-27

Format: Paperback

ISBN-13: 9789401084116

DOI: 10.1007/978-94-009-4301-8

Dimensions: 235cm x155cm

Pages: 188