The Endocrine System in Our Bodies

The endocrine system is a network of glands that produce hormones to promote the body’s homeostasis. The glands that make up the endocrine system are the hypothalamus, pineal, pituitary, thyroid, parathyroid, thymus, adrenals, pancreas, ovaries, and testes. The pituitary gland is divided into two parts which are the adenohypophysis and the neurohypophysis and connected to the hypothalamus. These two glands work together, the hypothalamus makes hormones for secretion and the adenohypophysis secretes the hormones made and the neurohypophysis stores and releases two specific hormones called Antidiuretic hormone and oxytocin. The pineal gland, located in the brain, produces the hormones melatonin and serotonin. The pineal glands create serotonin from tryptophan which we get from food and serotonin which turns into melatonin, which aids in sleep.

The thyroid gland located in the neck regulates the metabolism by releasing hormones. The two main hormones that the thyroid gland produces are Triiodothyronine (T3), and Thyroxine (T4), These are made by using iodine. The parathyroid glands are in the thyroid, there are about five parathyroid in a thyroid gland. The parathyroid glands secrete parathyroid hormone (PTH) and this hormone regulates calcium. The adrenal glands are located above the kidneys. They secrete epinephrine and norepinephrine. The pancreas is located behind the stomach and the part of the pancreas that produce hormones are called the islets of Langerhans. The hormones that come from the islets of Langerhans are Glucagon, somatostatin, insulin, and, pancreatic polypeptide.

Diabetes is a condition where the body’s ability to produce or use insulin is capacitated. There are four types of diabetes, prediabetes, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes. Prediabetes is when someone has an impaired glucose tolerance. Type 1 diabetes is caused because the immune system attacks and destroys cells in the pancreas that produce insulin. Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body is unable to use the insulin it produces. Gestational diabetes is less common, and it is said to be caused by insulin shortage or hormones.

Some symptoms that occur with diabetes are, thirst, frequent urination, hunger, fatigue, and blurred vision. The parts of the endocrine system that diabetes affects are the kidneys, the liver, and the pancreas. Diabetes can affect your liver by increasing the risk of nonalcoholic liver disease which is a condition where alcohol produces fat to build up in the liver. The effect diabetes has on the kidneys is too much blood glucose or blood pressure can cause kidney damage. The immune system destroys the beta cells in the islet of Langerhans and the loss of these cells means your body cannot produce insulin.

Diabetes treatments consists of insulin and oral agents. Insulin is used to treat all types of diabetes. Insulin was originally manufactured from animals. Genetically engineered insulin is now used in place of the animal insulin. There are rapid acting, short acting, intermediate acting, and long acting forms of insulin. Other types of treatments include sulfonylureas, biguanides, alpha glucosidase inhibitors, meglitinides, and Thiazolidinedione.