According to data from the American Diabetes Association, there are over 23.6 million people in the US who have Diabetes, which comprise of 8 percent of its total population. From 2005-2007, the overall incidence of diabetes has significantly increased to about 13.5%. These alarming facts just demonstrate that Diabetes has really become one of the most common kinds of autoimmune disorders afflicting not just Americans but also people from different areas of the planet.

Diabetes

You might have heard about the disease named Diabetes, but you aren’t entirely certain how it really develops. The reality is, your immune system or immune auto plays an essential role for the evolution of the disease. Before we get into details, you must first know the most important function. The human immune system is the body’s first line of defense against foreign bodies such as viruses, bacteria, infections and diseases.

It’s composed of a network of organs and cells which are working hand in hand to avoid such invaders (commonly called as antigens) by entering the blood and other areas of the body.

Immune system

Generally, the immune system consists of various essential elements such as the white blood cells, hormones, bone marrow, thymus, spleen, lymph system, antibodies and complement system (including the protective proteins in the body). Unfortunately, there are a few instances the body identifies its own cells as foreign, in which case a condition called autoimmune disorder arise. Diabetes is one of those ailments that develops when the immune system malfunctions.

When the body’s defense becomes the issue, it’s often due to two things – either its not working satisfactorily or working too aggressively – and this problem is called immune-mediated. Once the immune system begin attacking itself it inflicts harm without intervening, exactly like with autoimmune diseases, like diabetes, it erroneously perceive its own cells as foreign bodies thus it attempts to ruin it leading into the destruction of significant body cells and intense immune system stress. Diabetes is obviously connected with a malfunctioning immune system.

Insulin

A healthy person would normally have beta cells which produce insulin. It’s a hormone that aids in the regulation of glucose levels in the body. With type 1 diabetes, the body attacks the beta cells resulting in its destruction. Initially, the body will annihilate the cells in the pancreas, a few cells will be destroyed but there’s still enough remaining to keep the production of insulin. However, because the destruction process continues more beta cells are damaged and become completely destroyed until the body can’t produce insulin by itself. This is the point where the symptoms of diabetes begin to manifest.

Sadly, as soon as you’re diagnosed with diabetes you’ll be dealing with it for the rest of your life. There’s absolutely no way to undo the damaged caused by a malfunctioning immune system. The destruction made to the beta cells is irreversible. When this occurs, the body will not have the ability to produce insulin.

Conclusion

Although this isn’t always true with all diabetic patients because many studies have demonstrated that some might still have remaining beta cells to produce insulin. But for people who don’t, constant therapy and insulin shots are needed to be able to reside and continue life. However it is not too late. Learn how to build your immune system up by eating whole foods even if you have diabetes rebuilding damaged cells.