FACTORS CONTROLLING THE DEVELOPMENT AND PROGRESSION OF DIABETES

Abstract

"It is the purpose of this review to consider the various metabolic, nutritional and toxic factors which may influence the onset and progression of both exptl. and human diabetes. When considering the etiology of human diabetes one must bear in mind that there is more than one cause of diabetes, and that the pancreas in not primarily involved in all cases. Of particular interest is the fact that, whereas some types of diabetes may be extrapancreatic at their onset (e.g., pituitary diabetes), these may later also have a pancreatic factor because of a secondary involvement of the beta cells. Since diabetics are usually not born with their disease but rather develop it in the course of their lifetime, it is reasonable to assume that toxic or metabolic factors may appear in man and contribute to the progressive degeneration which is taking place in the beta cells of the human pancreas......It should also be emphasized that the physiological state of the body, and the beta cells in particular, determines the susceptibility of the organism to diabetes. The peculiarities of the beta cells which may result from their specialization for insulin synthesis have been discussed. As was first shown in the case of alloxan diabetes, the glutathione content of the body directly influences the susceptibility to alloxan. Evidence is rapidly accumulating which suggests that glutatione may play an important role in the development of other types of diabetes as well......As has already been suggested human diabetes may not only be due to the appearance of abnormal toxic or metabolic factors, but it may also be due to a defect in glutathione metabolism. As more information is obtained on the nature of the factors which affect the susceptibility to diabetes, it may be hoped that we shall someday be able to prevent the onset and development of human diabetes by feeding some protective substance.".