33^rd European Diabetes Congress

Endocrine system and diabetes

Diabetes affects how the body regulates blood glucose levels. Insulin helps to reduce levels of blood glucose whereas glucagon's role is to increase blood glucose levels. In people without diabetes, insulin and glucagon work together to keep blood glucose levels balanced.

In diabetes, the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or doesn't respond properly to insulin causing an imbalance between the effects of insulin and glucagon.

In type 1 diabetes, the body isn't able to produce enough insulin and so blood glucose becomes too high unless insulin is injected.

In type 2 diabetes, the body is unable to respond effectively to insulin, which can also result in higher than normal blood glucose levels. Medications for type 2diabetes include those which help to increase insulin sensitivity, those which stimulate the pancreas to release more insulin and other medications which inhibit the release of glucagon.