Understanding Diabetes

All of us have a broad understand about what Diabetes is and the kind of relationship it has with sugar. But that's about it. Taking a more detailed purview of Diabetes is a metabolic condition that is a direct result of the processes of consumption and energy generation in our body. This is how our body normally functions: When we consume food or any nutrients, our body breaks them down into glucose which is then absorbed into the blood. This is the main source of fuel for our body. After digestion, this glucose then passes into the bloodstream, where it is used by the cells in our body to generate growth and energy. In order for the glucose that's generated to get into the cells, insulin must be present.

Insulin is a type of a hormone that is produced by the pancreas (an organ that lies behind the stomach.)When we eat, the pancreas automatically produces the right amount of insulin to move glucose from blood into our cells.

If you suffer from diabetes, your pancreas will either produce little or no insulin, or your cells won't respond appropriately to the insulin that is produced. As a result of this, the glucose will build up in the blood, overflow into the urine and passes out of your body. Due to this, your body will lose its main source of fuel even though the blood might contain large amounts of glucose.

TYPES OF DIABETES

The two main types of diabetes are

  • Type 1 Diabetes

    Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease.

    An autoimmune disease will occurs when your body's immune system that is active in fighting an infection turns against some part of the body.

  • Type 2 Diabetes

    This is most common form of diabetes and about 90 to 95 percent of everyone who is suffering from diabetes is diagnosed with this type. Type 2 Diabetes is most often associated with older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, previous history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity, and certain ethnicities.

If you're diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, this is what your body is undergoing:

  • Your pancreas is producing enough insulin, but your body cannot use it effectively, resulting in a condition called insulin resistance.
  • When this happens, the fat, muscle and liver cells in your body won't be able to utilize insulin properly.
  • During the initial stages, your pancreas will try to keep up with the added demand by producing more insulin. Over time, however, it will lose its ability to secrete as much insulin as required.

If you're overweight and inactive, you double your chances of developing type 2 diabetes.

Both kinds of diabetes have the same end result: the build up of glucose and the inability of the body to make efficient use of its main fuel source.

How Diabetes affects your health

Like many other illnesses, the symptoms of diabetes also develop very gradually.
Some of these include:

  • Being very thirsty
  • Urinating often
  • Extreme hunger or fatigue
  • Losing weight without trying
  • Suffering from sores or wounds that heal slowly
  • Dry, itchy skin
  • Losing the feeling in your feet or having tingling in your feet
  • Blurry eyesight

One way in which you can prevent health problems is by keeping your blood glucose levels on target. Everyone with diabetes needs to choose foods wisely and be physically active. If you can't reach your target blood glucose levels with wise food choices and physical activity, you may need diabetes medicines