SCIENCE IN THE NEWS - Diabetes

SCIENCE IN THE NEWS - Diabetes¹
By Oliver Chanler

Broadcast: Tuesday, April 06, 2004

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VOICE ONE:

This is Steve Ember.

VOICE TWO:

And this is Bob Doughty² with Science in the News, a VOA Special English program about recent developments in Science. Today, we tell about the disease diabetes.

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VOICE ONE:

 
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The World Health Organization estimates that as many as one-hundred-twenty-million people have the disease diabetes. Diabetes is the name for several diseases with one thing in common: there is too much glucose⁴, or sugar, in the blood. The disease develops when the body does not produce enough insulin or produces no insulin. Or the disease develops when the body cannot use insulin.

Insulin is a hormone⁵ that is necessary to change sugar, carbohydrates⁶ and other food into energy. In healthy people, the body changes food into a sugar, called glucose. Glucose is the source of fuel for the body. When food is changed into glucose, it enters the bloodstream and is taken to all parts of the body to feed muscles, organs, and tissue.

VOICE TWO:

When the body senses that there is too much glucose in the blood, it sends a signal to the pancreas. The pancreas is the organ that produces insulin. The pancreas sends insulin into the bloodstream. The insulin lowers the level of blood sugar by letting it enter cells. Insulin helps muscles, organs and tissues take glucose and change it into energy.

That is how the body operates normally, in most people. Diabetes is present when too much glucose remains⁷ in the bloodstream and does not enter cells. If the amount of glucose in the blood remains too high, the body begins showing signs of diabetes. Over time, the disease can cause blindness, kidney disease, and nerve damage. High glucose levels in the blood also can lead to strokes and heart disease. Blood circulation also is affected⁸, especially in the legs. Often, victims of diabetes must have a foot or even a leg removed because of blood circulation problems linked to the disease.

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VOICE ONE:

There are two main kinds of diabetes, Type One and Type Two. Between five and ten percent of those suffering from diabetes have Type One. It usually begins before the age of thirty in people who are thin.

It is most commonly found in children under the age of sixteen. It is caused by the body's defense⁹ system. The bodies of Type One diabetes victims produce a substance that attacks and kills some cells in the pancreas, blocking the production of insulin. These cells are called islet cells. Scientists are not sure why this happens. They believe there may be a number of causes.

They include viruses, the presence of insect-killing pesticides¹⁰ in the environment or molecules¹¹ known as free radicals¹². Free radicals are produced as part of normal chemical processes in the body. In people with diabetes, too many of these free radicals are present in the body. Scientists are not sure which of these causes is the most important to the development of Type One Diabetes.

VOICE TWO:

People suffering from Type One diabetes must carefully control their diets. And they must exercise often. People with this kind of diabetes almost always require insulin injections. Patients must always know their blood sugar levels. When the level of glucose in the blood is too high, they must inject insulin into their bodies to reduce the amount of glucose. The patients must inject insulin every day, often several times a day. In most developed countries, insulin is easy to get and does not cost much money. However, doctors believe that these injections can cause long-term problems. They believe that the injections cause levels of glucose to change often.

Scientists believe that many quick changes in glucose levels can, over time, result in damage to the body. This damage can be blindness, kidney failure, heart disease, or poor blood flow in the body.

VOICE ONE:

 
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Type One Diabetes also is known as juvenile¹³ onset¹⁴ diabetes, because it usually starts in children or young people. Scientists believe it is the form of the disease that they will most likely be able to cure some day. Among the treatments being studied is a vaccine¹⁵ to prevent the disease. A vaccine is injected into the body or taken by mouth in the form of a pill.

Another possible treatment for Type One Diabetes is placing new islet cells into the pancreas to help it make insulin. Doctors have been transplanting islet cells into diabetes patients for several years. However, these healthy islet cells have failed to permanently¹⁶ replace the need for insulin injections.

Scientists also are studying special cells called stem cells to treat the disease. Stem cells develop into all the different kinds of cells in the body. Scientists believe that stem cells from unborn babies could be used to treat diabetes and other diseases. However, it would be a long time before such treatment is possible.

VOICE TWO:

While some scientists continue to seek ways to cure Type One Diabetes, others are searching for easier ways to get insulin into the body. New devices are being developed that could replace injections. One device being tested is an inhaler.

This device would permit patients to breathe insulin into their bodies. The insulin is in the form of a powder, like dust. When the insulin reaches the lungs, it quickly moves into the bloodstream to reduce glucose levels.

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VOICE ONE:

Type Two Diabetes generally is found in people more than forty years old. Most of these people are too fat. Their bodies can not produce enough insulin to reduce the levels of glucose in their blood. Or, their bodies do not react correctly to the action of insulin.

Type Two Diabetes is more complex than Type One. Experts say Type Two Diabetes is really a group of diseases, with many possible causes. Scientists see little hope in developing a cure for this kind of diabetes. Instead, they are searching for better ways to control it. Many people suffering from the disease can control it with exercise and by carefully controlling their diet. Also, many of them do not need to inject insulin into their bodies. Type Two Diabetes is sometimes called non-insulin dependent. Still, patients often need drugs to treat the disease.

VOICE TWO:

There are a number of drugs that can be used. However, many of them can cause other problems. One of the drugs is called sulfonylurea. It has been used for many years to help the pancreas make more insulin. But after several years, the drug loses its effects on the pancreas. Also, it can cause patients to gain weight.

The drug metformin appears to be more effective. It lowers the amounts of glucose in the blood. It does this by helping¹⁷ the body make better use of its own natural insulin. It does not cause weight gain. However, metformin can be dangerous for people with damaged kidneys. It should not be used by people who drink large amounts of alcohol, or those with kidney, liver or heart problems.

VOICE ONE:

Genes¹⁸ seem to be more important in the development of Type Two Diabetes than in Type One. About ninety percent of those with Type Two Diabetes have parents and ancestors who also had the disease. In recent years, scientists have found several genes that may be linked to Type Two Diabetes. Some of these genes also are linked to extreme overweight, known as obesity¹⁹. About eighty to ninety percent of people with Type Two Diabetes are obese²⁰. Often doctors do not discover that patients have diabetes until one of the disease's serious results is found. For example, a doctor examines a patient suffering several health problems.

The doctor carries out tests and finds the problems are the results of poor kidney performance. Tests then show the patient is suffering from diabetes, which can cause kidney problems and even failure.

VOICE TWO:

Although great progress has been made in the treatment of diabetes, it is still widespread and threatens the health of millions of people. Scientists hope that their research will lead to a cure for Type One Diabetes. And they hope they can find new ways to improve treatment of Type Two Diabetes. In future programs we will discuss new developments in diabetes research as they are reported.

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VOICE ONE:

This Science in the News program was written by Oliver Chanler. This is Steve Ember.

VOICE TWO:

And this is Bob Doughty. Join us again next week for more news about science in Special English on the Voice of America.

1 diabetes   

n.糖尿病

参考例句：

• In case of diabetes, physicians advise against the use of sugar.对于糖尿病患者，医生告诫他们不要吃糖。
• Diabetes is caused by a fault in the insulin production of the body.糖尿病是由体內胰岛素分泌失调引起的。

2 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。

3 graphic   

adj.生动的，形象的，绘画的，文字的，图表的

参考例句：

• The book gave a graphic description of the war.这本书生动地描述了战争的情况。
• Distinguish important text items in lists with graphic icons.用图标来区分重要的文本项。

4 glucose   

n.葡萄糖

参考例句：

• I gave him an extra dose of glucose to pep him up.我给他多注射了一剂葡萄糖以增强他的活力。
• The doctor injected glucose into his patient's veins.医生将葡萄糖注入病人的静脉。

5 hormone   

n.荷尔蒙，激素，内分泌

参考例句：

• Hormone implants are used as growth boosters.激素植入物被用作生长辅助剂。
• This hormone interacts closely with other hormones in the body.这种荷尔蒙与体內其他荷尔蒙紧密地相互作用。

6 carbohydrates   

n.碳水化合物，糖类( carbohydrate的名词复数 )；淀粉质或糖类食物

参考例句：

• The plant uses the carbohydrates to make cellulose. 植物用碳水化合物制造纤维素。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• All carbohydrates originate from plants. 所有的碳水化合物均来自植物。 来自辞典例句

7 remains   

n.剩余物，残留物；遗体，遗迹

参考例句：

• He ate the remains of food hungrily.他狼吞虎咽地吃剩余的食物。
• The remains of the meal were fed to the dog.残羹剩饭喂狗了。

8 affected   

adj.不自然的，假装的

参考例句：

• She showed an affected interest in our subject.她假装对我们的课题感到兴趣。
• His manners are affected.他的态度不自然。

9 defense   

n.防御，保卫；[pl.]防务工事；辩护，答辩

参考例句：

• The accused has the right to defense.被告人有权获得辩护。
• The war has impacted the area with military and defense workers.战争使那个地区挤满了军队和防御工程人员。

10 pesticides   

n.杀虫剂( pesticide的名词复数 )；除害药物

参考例句：

• vegetables grown without the use of pesticides 未用杀虫剂种植的蔬菜
• There is a lot of concern over the amount of herbicides and pesticides used in farming. 人们对农业上灭草剂和杀虫剂的用量非常担忧。 来自《简明英汉词典》

11 molecules   

分子( molecule的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The structure of molecules can be seen under an electron microscope. 分子的结构可在电子显微镜下观察到。
• Inside the reactor the large molecules are cracked into smaller molecules. 在反应堆里，大分子裂变为小分子。

12 radicals   

n.激进分子( radical的名词复数 )；根基；基本原理；[数学]根数

参考例句：

• Some militant leaders want to merge with white radicals. 一些好斗的领导人要和白人中的激进派联合。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The worry is that the radicals will grow more intransigent. 现在人们担忧激进分子会变得更加不妥协。 来自辞典例句

13 juvenile   

n.青少年，少年读物；adj.青少年的，幼稚的

参考例句：

• For a grown man he acted in a very juvenile manner.身为成年人，他的行为举止显得十分幼稚。
• Juvenile crime is increasing at a terrifying rate.青少年犯罪正在以惊人的速度增长。

14 onset   

n.进攻，袭击，开始，突然开始

参考例句：

• The drug must be taken from the onset of the infection.这种药必须在感染的最初期就开始服用。
• Our troops withstood the onset of the enemy.我们的部队抵挡住了敌人的进攻。

15 vaccine   

n.牛痘苗，疫苗；adj.牛痘的，疫苗的

参考例句：

• The polio vaccine has saved millions of lives.脊髓灰质炎疫苗挽救了数以百万计的生命。
• She takes a vaccine against influenza every fall.她每年秋季接种流感疫苗。

16 permanently   

adv.永恒地，永久地，固定不变地

参考例句：

• The accident left him permanently scarred.那次事故给他留下了永久的伤疤。
• The ship is now permanently moored on the Thames in London.该船现在永久地停泊在伦敦泰晤士河边。

17 helping   

n.食物的一份&adj.帮助人的，辅助的

参考例句：

• The poor children regularly pony up for a second helping of my hamburger. 那些可怜的孩子们总是要求我把我的汉堡包再给他们一份。
• By doing this, they may at times be helping to restore competition. 这样一来, 他在某些时候,有助于竞争的加强。

18 genes   

n.基因( gene的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• You have good genes from your parents, so you should live a long time. 你从父母那儿获得优良的基因，所以能够活得很长。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Differences will help to reveal the functions of the genes. 它们间的差异将会帮助我们揭开基因多种功能。 来自英汉非文学 - 生命科学 - 生物技术的世纪

19 obesity   

n.肥胖，肥大

参考例句：

• One effect of overeating may be obesity.吃得过多能导致肥胖。
• Sugar and fat can more easily lead to obesity than some other foods.糖和脂肪比其他食物更容易导致肥胖。

20 obese   

adj.过度肥胖的，肥大的

参考例句：

• The old man is really obese,it can't be healthy.那位老人确实过于肥胖了，不能算是健康。
• Being obese and lazy is dangerous to health.又胖又懒危害健康。