Understanding Diabetes

Diabetes is basically a disorder that makes it hard for our body to convert the food we eat into fuel. To fully understand the disorder, you may find it useful to have knowledge about the body's digestion process, how the pancreas and insulin functions, and their connection with diabetes.

In the digestion process, the carbohydrates and sugar that we eat are broken down into a simple sugar called glucose. Our bloodstream absorbs the glucose from our digestive tract, which causes the blood sugar (or blood glucose) level to rise. To utilise the glucose as fuel, the cells of our body need insulin. It is the pancreas that produces the insulin hormone. Insulin facilitates the transfer of glucose in the blood into the cells. Once inside, the glucose is burned to generate energy.

The function of glucose is akin to the petrol used in cars. They are both used as a fuel and as a source of energy. However, you cannot make the car move by the use of petrol alone. You have to use a key to start the motor of the vehicle, allowing the petrol to be turned into energy. Just like the vehicle, our bodies require a key that enables our engines, the cells, to utilise glucose for energy. Insulin is this chemical key; it opens the door, for glucose in the bloodstream to penetrate the cells, where it is turned into energy for the body.

If you have diabetes, the insulin is not capable of carrying out this function. This may be due to the insufficient production of insulin by the pancreas, or the body cannot efficiently use the produced insulin. This results in the accumulation of glucose to high levels in your blood. When blood passes through the kidneys, the excess glucose is filtered out and spilt into the urine. This leads to the noticeable symptoms of diabetes: frequent urination, and excess quantities of sugar in urine.

Although diabetes is a serious condition, there are ways that can lead to a long and healthy life and avoid further complications of the disease. You need to have effective self-management and good medical care to live well with diabetes. While health care professionals can help you manage diabetes, it is your responsibility to learn more about the condition, and to adhere to the proper techniques and actions necessary to manage diabetes on a daily basis.

Information On How You Can Manage & Control Diabetes