Insulitis
Insulitis (pronounced in-su-li-tis) is a medical term that refers to the inflammation of the Islets of Langerhans, which are clusters of cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. The term is derived from the Latin words 'insula' meaning island (referring to the Islets of Langerhans) and '-itis' which is a common suffix in medical terminology indicating inflammation.
Definition
Insulitis is a characteristic pathological manifestation of Type 1 diabetes and some forms of Type 2 diabetes. It is marked by the infiltration of the islets by immune cells, leading to inflammation and eventual destruction of the insulin-producing Beta cells. This results in a decrease in insulin production, leading to high blood sugar levels.
Symptoms
The symptoms of insulitis are not distinct and are generally similar to the symptoms of diabetes. These may include frequent urination, excessive thirst, fatigue, blurred vision, and unexplained weight loss.
Causes
Insulitis is primarily caused by an autoimmune reaction where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the beta cells in the pancreas. This is often seen in Type 1 diabetes. However, it can also occur in some cases of Type 2 diabetes, where it is associated with obesity and a high-fat diet.
Diagnosis
Diagnosis of insulitis is typically made through a combination of blood tests to measure blood sugar levels and the presence of autoantibodies, and imaging tests to visualize the pancreas. In some cases, a biopsy of the pancreas may be performed.
Treatment
Treatment for insulitis primarily involves managing the underlying diabetes. This can include insulin therapy, other medications to control blood sugar levels, and lifestyle changes such as diet and exercise.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Insulitis
- Wikipedia's article - Insulitis
This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.
Languages: - East Asian
中文,
日本,
한국어,
South Asian
हिन्दी,
Urdu,
বাংলা,
తెలుగు,
தமிழ்,
ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian
Indonesian,
Vietnamese,
Thai,
မြန်မာဘာသာ,
European
español,
Deutsch,
français,
русский,
português do Brasil,
Italian,
polski