There are two major forms of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Although they have different causes, patients with either form are unable to produce sufficient insulin in the beta cells of the pancreas to prevent hyperglycaemia.
Type 1 diabetes comprises about 10% of all diabetes cases in Europe, and is characterised by the loss of the pancreatic beta cells, usually by autoimmune destruction. Since Type 1 diabetes often affects patients at a young age, it is also named juvenile diabetes. It is the more severe form of the disease because there is no treatment. Instead, patients must adjust their lifestyles, for example by improving their diet, taking regular exercise and monitoring their blood sugar levels. Additionally, subcutaneous injections or the continuous delivery of insulin by a pump into the blood circulation system are necessary to avoid coma or death.Type 2 diabetes is due to insulin resistance or reduced insulin sensitivity in the target tissues, combined with insufficient insulin secretion. The lowered response of the body tissues to insulin almost certainly involves the insulin receptors in cell membranes. This causes the body to need abnormally high amounts of insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels, and diabetes develops when the beta cells cannot meet this demand. Type 2 diabetes, commonly known as adult-onset diabetes, usually appears after the age of 30. In most cases, it is connected with obesity and too little physical exercise; changing to a healthier lifestyle can improve the condition or in some cases even cure it. See Dugi (2006) for more details of diabetes.People affected by either type of diabetes need to learn how to live with the symptoms of the disease. These include frequent urination, increased thirst and, consequently, increased fluid intake. Since large numbers of children are affected by diabetes, it is essential to teach students about the disease from an early stage. Diabetes sufferers need to learn how to minimise their symptoms or even prevent the disease by eating a healthy diet and taking enough exercise. Healthy children should understand the needs of their affected friends.We have therefore put together some experiments to enable students to detect carbohydrates. One series of experiments detects whether or not a solution contains starch, proteins, or sugars such as glucose, lactose or sucrose. Once the sugars are identified, further experiments determine, using an enzymatic reaction, which samples contain lactose or glucose. The principle of these experiments is the same as in assays to determine blood glucose levels for the diagnosis of diabetes, or to measure glucose and/or lactose levels, for example in fruit juices, milk and dairy products. These experiments, therefore, give students an idea of how diabetes sufferers can monitor their sugar status.