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Article: Insulin pumps.
- Article from:
- Pediatrics for Parents
- Article date:
- September 1, 2003
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2003 Pediatrics for Parents, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
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A normally functioning pancreas continually releases insulin into the blood stream. Through a complex feedback system, more insulin is released when the blood sugar level goes up, and less when the blood sugar level is less.
Diabetes occurs when there's a problem with this system. In type II diabetes (also called adult onset diabetes), the pancreas makes insulin, but the body doesn't respond to it properly and blood sugar levels go up. In type I diabetes (formerly called juvenile onset diabetes), the pancreas loses its ability to produce insulin.
People with type I diabetes require insulin to control their blood sugar levels. With type II diabetes, diet, ...