Insulin is a hormone that prevents glucose from reaching abnormally high levels in the bloodstream. Even so, several disorders can result in high blood glucose levels. Insulin is secreted by the pancreas, and various abnormalities of the pancreas can affect its secretion of insulin. In addition, the organs can become resistant to the hormone.
Diabetes Mellitus
As of 2007, according to the Centers for Disease Control, an estimated 17.9 million Americans had diabetes mellitus, while an additional 5.7 million probably had the disorder but had not been diagnosed. People with diabetes mellitus type 1 have high glucose levels in their bloodstream because antibodies have destroyed the cells in the pancreas that secrete insulin. Those with diabetes mellitus type 2 have insulin, but their tissues and organs have become resistant to the insulin. They, too, will have high blood glucose levels.
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes refers to the diabetes that develops in 1 to 3 percent of pregnant women, writes Sean Blackwell, M.D., in "The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals." High glucose levels in the first 10 weeks of pregnancy, when the organs of the fetus develop, can cause abnormalities or the loss of the baby. High levels later in the pregnancy can result in large babies. Newborn babies may have low blood glucose levels, a high number of red blood cells and respiratory problems.
Chronic Pancreatitis
This is the long-term inflammation of the pancreas, which 60 to 70 percent of the time is the result of alcohol abuse, notes Bechien Wu, M.D., writing in "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, & Endoscopy." The inflammation causes changes to the structure of the pancreas. These changes may even have started with an attack of acute pancreatitis, or a pancreas infection that starts abruptly. Chronic pancreatitis can damage the cells of the pancreas that secrete insulin. This can lead to high glucose levels and diabetes.
Glucagonoma
The beta cells of the pancreas secrete insulin, while the alpha cells secrete glucagon. Glucagon is a hormone that has the responsibility to raise glucose levels in the bloodstream. A glucagonoma is a tumor in the pancreas that releases glucagon without abiding by any control or regulation. The high glucagon level will lead to high blood glucose levels. It is a rare tumor, but an estimated 80 percent of them are malignant, according to Elliot Livstone, M.D., writing in "The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals."
Schmidt Syndrome
Schmidt syndrome is also referred to as polyglandular autoimmune syndrome type II. The three types of this disorder all involve abnormalities in several endocrine glands. They are autoimmune disorders, where the immune system attacks its own tissues or organs. In Schmidt syndrome, people usually have problem with their adrenal gland and their thyroid gland and have diabetes mellitus type 1, which can give them high blood glucose levels.
References
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: 2007 National Diabetes Fact Sheet
- "Current Diagnosis & Treatment: Gastroenterology, Hepatology, & Endoscopy"; Norton Greenberger, M.D.; 2009
- "Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine"; Anthony Fauci, M.D., Dennis Kasper, M.D., Dan Longo, M.D. et al.; 2008
- The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Diabetes Mellitus in Pregnancy
- The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals: Pancreatic Endocrine Tumors
