Description

Now let’s examine diabetes coverage.

Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic disorders characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels that result from defects in insulin secretion, action, or both.

Typically, blood glucose levels are accurately controlled by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, which lowers the blood glucose level. When blood glucose levels elevate (for example, after eating food), insulin is released from the pancreas to normalize the glucose level. In patients with diabetes, the absence or insufficient production of insulin causes hyperglycemia.

Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that can lead to blindness, kidney failure, and nerve damage. Damage of this type is the result of small vessel deteriorization, referred to as microvascular disease. Diabetes is also an important factor in accelerating the hardening and narrowing of the arteries (atherosclerosis), leading to strokes, coronary heart disease, and other large blood vessel diseases which are referred to as macrovascular disease.

The insufficient production of insulin, the production of defective insulin (which is not very common), or cells that lack the ability to use insulin properly and efficiently, lead to hyperglycemia and diabetes. This is type 2 diabetes.

This latter condition affects mostly the cells of muscle and fat tissues, and results in insulin resistance. There also is a steady decline of pancreatic beta cells that adds to the process of elevated blood sugars. The body can increase production of insulin somewhat, overcoming the level of resistance. Over time, though, if insulin production decreases and cannot be released quickly enough or in large enough quantities, hyperglycemia develops.

The absolute lack of insulin, usually secondary to a destructive process affecting the insulin producing beta cells in the pancreas, is the main disorder in type 1 diabetes.