Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream is too high because the body cannot use it properly. It is important to keep the concentration of glucose at strict levels, since excess blood sugar levels cause vision problems, kidney damage, nerve damage, heart and circulation problems.

In diabetic patients glucose is not well transported into the body cells because either the level of the helper hormone insulin is too low (type-1) or the body cells do not respond to it properly (type-2). To better understand the disease and get informed about current research, a Science Information Pack has been put together. Its content can be viewed or downloaded from the section below.

The ComScience project has organised public events in different Europan countries, results can be found at the 'Events' pages.

SIPs have been prepared to be used by teachers, science communicators or science event organisers. Please feel free to examine the materials that are presented below. If you have questions or requests regarding of the content (film or written materials) please contact the ComScience management

	The Film : The image on the left is the link for viewing this 5 minutes movie on this science subject. If you wish to receive a copy of this film in high or web-quality, please contact the ComScience managment.		Contact Database : the ComScience project interacts with European researchers in preparation of the presented materials. Either view the online file or use the .doc or .pdf file.
	Handout : This A4 sheet is used to inform the participants about the the science topic. On the reverse side, organisers can include details on the event itself, the invited participants, experts and about the organizers. A questionnaire is also a great idea. Either view the online file or use the .doc or .pdf file.		The Background : document with more detailed information on the science subject. Its content can be used to prepare a public event, lessons or for student projects. Either view the online file or use the .doc or .pdf file.
	FAQs : Frequently asked questions aim to find quick answers and to prepare for questions during events or classroom lessons. Either view the online file or use the .doc or .pdf file.		The Glossary : this list of terms helps to better understand the science subject. Many terms from different fields of science are used by specialists and quite uncommon to many people. Either view the online file or use the .doc or .pdf file.

Diabetes mellitus is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream is too high because the body cannot use it properly. Glucose comes from the carbohydrates in food or from the liver where it is stored as glycogen ( a specific type of carbohydrate). The hormone insulin is needed to allow glucose to pass from the bloodstream into the body cells where it is used as fuel or as building bloc.

Insulin is a peptide hormone composed of 51 amino acid residues, thus a small protein. It is produced in the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas mostly in response to food intake and increased blood glucose levels. Insulin, that is released in the bloodstream, causes most of the body's cells to take up glucose from the blood where it is either metabolized (used) or stored as glycogen (a branched chain of coupled glucose molecules). A fine tuned mechanism, involving insulin production and degradation, makes sure that the glucose levels in the blood remain at relative constant levels.

Glucose concentrations in the bloodstream rise (hyperglycemia) if insulin is low or absent (type-1 diabetes) or when glucose is not taken up by the body cells (type-2 diabetes). This condition is typical for diabetic patients and results in a range of symptoms: excessive thirst, excessive urination, poor wound healing. Recurrent high glucose levels cause damage to the blood vessels and to the organs they supply, leading to further complications of diabetes.

Too low concentrations of glucose in the bloodstream (hypoglycemia) can occur when insulin is administered but no food is taken. Glucose concentrations drop and while body cells may revert to the use fat as an energy source, nervous cells do not and only have very small internal stores of glycogen. Lack of sufficient glucose concentrations in the bloodstream can then cause the central nervous system to malfunction: dizziness and even loss of consciousness, known as "hypoglycemic coma" can occur. Severe acute or prolonged hypoglycemia may result in brain damage or death.

The World Health Organization recognizes three main forms of diabetes mellitus: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes (occurring during pregnancy), which have different causes and population distributions. Gestational diabetes typically resolves with delivery of the child, however types 1 and 2 diabetes are chronic conditions.

The film in this package shows that research is being carried out to find out whether human brown fat cells can be used to burn excess blood glucose in favor of the white fat cells where glucose is stored as fat. This would help patients with type 2 diabetes to lower glucose concentrations in the bloodstream and counteract the insulin tolerance of the body cells.