Diabetes – A Simple Explanation

Finding out you have diabetes can be scary but don't panic. People with diabetes can live long healthy lives. When we eat food travels to the stomach. Food is made up of three basic nutrients, carbohydrates, proteins and fats during digestion carbohydrates are broken down into sugar. Otherwise known as glucose. Here's a quick fact carbohydrates include foods such as bread rice pasta, potatoes. Fruit milk and yogurt in a normal digestive process sugar travels from the stomach through the bloodstream to your body's muscle and fat cells.

However sugar can't enter these cells without the help of a special hormone called insulin. Which is produced by the pancreas insulin acts like a key unlocking the doors to the muscle and fat cells and allowing the sugar to enter the cells. Then use this sugar as fuel to provide energy for the body. When this process is functioning properly, sugar entering the bloodstream from the stomach is able to exit the bloodstream at the muscle and fat cells.

In this manner the body is able to regulate the concentration of sugar in the bloodstream. Now let's see what happens in a person with diabetes. Sugar enters the bloodstream but one of two things happens either the pancreas does not produce a sufficient quantity of insulin to match the sugar entering the bloodstream or the body cells do not respond to the insulin. The body is producing in both cases the result is the same. Cell doors remain closed causing sugar to get backed up in the bloodstream. As a result blood sugar levels rise this creates several problems. Because sugars are not able to enter your body cells.

Your body is not getting the fuel it needs as a result. You may feel tired or fatigued. Your body may try to dilute the excess sugar in the bloodstream by pulling fluid out of your cells. This can leave you feeling dehydrated and thirsty. Most importantly over time exposure to high blood sugar levels can cause damage to vital organs connected to the bloodstream.

Such as your eyes kidneys nerves and heart if not controlled properly diabetes can lead to serious complications. Such as blindness amputation, kidney failure, heart attack and stroke. In order to avoid these complications people with diabetes must take steps to keep their blood sugar levels in a normal range.

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One way to do this is through diet by reducing the amount of carbohydrates. You eat in a single meal or snack. You can regulate the amount of sugar entering the bloodstream and prevent your body's insulin supply from becoming overwhelmed. This may mean limiting high sugar foods such as cake, pie, candy and soda. You know which ones another way to regulate blood sugar is through exercise physical activity makes your body's muscle and fat cells more receptive to insulin in other words those muscle and fat cells that wouldn't open before now they will finally your doctor may prescribe oral medications to increase your supply of insulin regulate. The amount of sugar entering the bloodstream or make your body cells more receptive to the insulin your body is producing. In some cases insulin shots may also be necessary.

Let's review we've talked about what diabetes is a condition where either the body does not produce enough insulin or the body cells are not receptive to the insulin being produced. We've seen what complications can arise from it such as fatigue dehydration and damage to vital organs. finally we've discussed ways to manage it through diet exercise and medication for more information about your specific health diagnosis and treatment plan please talk to your doctor