Likewise on the digestive system, diabetes also has some consequences on the endocrine system. But before we delve into its effects, let us have a quick glance into the understanding of what endocrine system is and what role does it play.
Table of Contents
What is Endocrine System?
Endocrine system is basically a complex network of glands that produce some chemicals known as hormones. These hormones are responsible for controlling various functions of the body by sending signals to the brain. The body falls under an endocrine disease either when the glands stop producing respective hormones or when the brain doesn’t respond to the hormonal signals.
Some of the major glands that form up the endocrine system are:
- Adrenal glands
- Pancreas
- Pituitary gland
- Reproductive glands
- Hypothalamus
- Thyroid
- Pineal body
- Parathyroid
Relation between Diabetes and Endocrine System
Diabetes is a form of endocrine disease caused by high blood sugar levels in the body. It is perhaps the most common disease affecting the endocrine system. Diabetes arises when the group of hormones governing the glucose levels in the blood stops functioning, resulting in shooting up of the blood glucose.
In addition to insulin and glucagon, various other hormones of endocrine system are responsible for influencing blood glucose levels. For instance, cortisol raises the levels of blood glucose to boost up the energy. Likewise, incretins hormones begin the insulin secretion from the pancreas, so that the glucose levels don’t increase much, after having meals.
How diabetes affects the stomach?
According to doctors, the other term for gastroparesis is ‘diabetic stomach’. Autonomic neuropathy that is the damaging of the vagus nerve, makes the movement of the food slow, thus retaining it for an extended period. This accumulation of solid mass in the stomach leads to awful pain and discomfort.
The principal cause of this has been owed to diabetes. Although it occurs in both type 1 and type 2 diabetes, but according to WHO, type 1 patients are more frequented by it. Type 1 diabetes stomach problems include irregular bowel movements, accidental bowel leakage, prolonged removal of the stomach’s content and bloating of the stomach.
Normally, the surplus glucose in the body, if any, is flushed out through urine. However, a diabetic patient with high glucose level can acquire urinary tract infection due to the bacterial development in the excretory system. It can also result in the damage of nerves and kidney.
How Are Diabetes And Digestive Issues Related?
According to WHO, people with diabetes are exposed to a plethora of digestive issues. The researchers say that type 1 diabetic patients generate an undue protein that can restrict the proper digestion process unlike the healthy people.Many people also have this question – can diabetes cause diarrhoea? The answer to this is very much ‘yes’.
Diarrhoea is the passing of watery stools multiple times a day. Patients with diabetes are at increased risk of diarrhoea as, due to the high blood glucose levels, the nerves that regulate the involuntary movements of the body slacken. So, it is imperative to monitor the blood glucose levels and drink plenty of water to prevent dehydration.
What Is Endocrinologist Diabetes?
Diabetes and endocrinology go hand in hand as the latter mainly deals with the endocrine organs that are responsible for the hormonal imbalances in our body, including the rise of blood glucose levels resulting in diabetes. Endocrinologists specialize in the treatment of disorders related to glands, and insulin being a hormone, diabetes is also regarded as a hormonal malady.
We hope the above post has been helpful in educating you on the effects of diabetes on digestive, endocrine and the excretory system and how the same can be treated and managed effectively with the a fore-mentioned measures.