Autoimmune Diseases Affects The Immune System

According to Anne Davidson and Betty Diamond, autoimmune diseases are diseases in which your immune system, the system in your body which protects yourself from illnesses, attacks other healthy cells in your body (Davidson and Diamond, 2001). The list of autoimmune diseases includes, but isn’t limited to, Addison’s disease, narcolepsy, and psoriasis; each disease affects the immune system in different ways. Diabetes, also known as Diabetes Mellitus, is an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin to move glucose from food that is consumed into the cells (Diagnosis and Classification of Diabetes, 2005). Diabetes is divided into two types, Type 1 and Type 2. Type 1 diabetes, known as Juvenile diabetes, affects

The circulatory system is affected because if the levels of glucose exceed normal amount, the blood vessels could be damaged. If the damage done to the blood vessels goes untreated, several blood vessels can explode which would have negative effects on the body because blood isn’t being properly or efficiently transported throughout the body. The endocrine system is highly affected by diabetes because it is in this system that the pancreas is meant to regulate glucose levels. Because the level of glucose is too high without insulin being produced in the body to counteract the levels, the natural bodily processes are interrupted causing the affected individual to be aware of their glucose levels themselves with at-home tests. (Daneman, 2006). The brain is one of the most important organs in the body; however, it is also as susceptible as other organs to experience the effects of diabetes. According to Biessels (2009), the brain needs oxygen and glucose to function properly and because of the imbalance and fluctuations in these levels, it is common for those with diabetes to experience cognitive impairments (Bissels,

These tests measure A1C levels, A1C is a component of hemoglobin and which glucose is bound to. The cut off point for A1C levels that indicate the presence of diabetes is 6.5 or higher (International Expert Committee report, 2009). By checking one’s blood level, people can quickly be aware of any sudden fluctuations in their glucose levels. Monitoring blood levels is less crucial for those diagnosed with Type 1 but it can provide indications of whether an individual is developing into Type 2 and it can also offer data if the person is experiencing another disease simultaneously that would affect glucose levels (International Expert Committee report,