Diabetes is a growing health problem in the world today. Did you know that approximately 20.8 million children and adults are diagnosed with diabetes in the United States alone? These numbers are growing every day. The exact cause of diabetes is not clear, however, lack of exercise and obesity are huge factors in the development of diabetes. This article will give some general information about diabetes.
Glucose is considered the body's fuel. We get glucose from the foods that we eat. It is not just sugar alone that is converted into glucose, but also starches and carbohydrates are chemically broken down into glucose. Without glucose your body would not function. All muscles and major organs in your body need glucose. But how does the glucose get to the proper destinations?
Insulin is the hormone that distributes the glucose to the liver, fat cells and muscles. A diabetic does not produce enough insulin or for some reason, his body is not able to process it effectively. When this happens the glucose stays in the blood and produces high blood sugar.
Diabetes can be classified into the following three types:
Type 1 Diabetes
In type 1 diabetes the body produces little or no insulin and daily injections of insulin are necessary to sustain life. This type is usually present from childhood and is also called insulin dependent diabetes.
Type 2 Diabetes
It is the more common type of diabetes and usually develops in adulthood. With type 2 diabetes, the body is unable to effectively use the insulin produced. Most type 2 diabetics are managed by diet and oral medications.
Gestational Diabetes.
This type develops during pregnancy and usually goes away after the birth of the baby