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Our bodies use the food we eat to make the blood glucose (sugar) our cells need for energy. Insulin is a hormone
secreted by the pancreas which helps blood glucose get into our body cells. When there is enough insulin, and our
body's signals are working correctly, blood glucose is maintained within normal limits. In people with diabetes,
the body is not able to make appropriate use of the food you eat. Blood glucose stays in the blood instead of
going into the cells. This causes high blood glucose levels which in turn increases the risk for complications,
such as heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, nerve damage to the legs and feet. Unfortunately, people
are sometimes diagnosed with diabetes only after complications have been detected.
The human body can only function properly with certain levels of sugar in the bloodstream. Fasting blood glucose
(blood sugar) should be kept in a very narrow range--between 70 mg/dl and 110 mg/dl. (See Prevention & Detection for more information about
the diagnosis of the glucose impaired or diabetes)
Types of Diabetes
There are two different types of diabetesóType 1 and Type 2ówhich are similar in their elevated blood sugar, but
different in onset and diagnosis. Type 1 is an auto-immune disease which results in an absence of insulin.
Lack of insulin or insulin deficiency means there is not enough insulin being made by the pancreas due to a malfunction
of the insulin producing cells. Type 2 is most often characterized by insulin resistance. Insulin resistance
occurs when the cells of the body are resistant to the actions of insulin and blood glucose remain in the blood.
A small percentage of people with Type 2 may not have enough insulin for the body's needs. |
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