Diabetes is a condition that affects how your body uses food for energy.
When you eat, the carbohydrate found in most foods is changed into a type
of fuel called glucose. Glucose circulates in the blood and is the major
energy source for the body.
In order for cells in muscles and other tissues in the body to use glucose
for energy, a hormone called insulin is required. Insulin is produced
by the beta cells of the pancreas, a gland located deep in the abdomen
partially behind the stomach. When you have diabetes, either the pancreas
does not make enough insulin, or the body does not respond to the insulin
that is made. Sometimes, a person with diabetes can have both of these
problems. When insulin is not doing its job of moving glucose into the
cell, glucose builds up in the bloodstream and tissues, and is excreted
in the urine. When this happens, the body loses its main source of fuel.
Diabetes occurs when glucose levels in the blood stream go above
a normal level (hyperglycemia).
Type 1
1 out of 10 people with diabetes has type 1 diabetes. It occurs most often
in children or young adults. The pancreas produces little or no insulin
making it necessary to inject insulin every day. The causes of type 1
diabetes are complex and still not completely understood. One appears
to inherit the genetic predisposition which is activated by a trigger
such as a virus or chemical. This starts an attack on the immune system
that results in the destruction of the beta cells of the pancreas.
Type 2
9 out of 10 people with diabetes have type 2 diabetes. It occurs most
often in people over 40. In type 2, either there is not enough insulin,
or, more commonly, the insulin that is available is not working properly
(insulin resistance). The greatest risk factors for type 2 diabetes are
family history, being overweight and getting little or no exercise. The
treatment is healthy eating, physical activity and often medications.
Sometimes, insulin injections are very helpful.
Gestational diabetes first develops during pregnancy because hormonal
changes create an insulin resistant state that causes the body to increase
insulin production, unfortunately, if the pancreas cannot keep pace with
the increased demand, high blood glucose levels result. In order to protect
the baby’s health, it is very important that the mother’s
blood glucose be carefully controlled during pregnancy. For most women,
once the baby is born, blood glucose levels return to normal, but these
women are at an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in
life.
No matter what type of diabetes you have, blood glucose levels can go
above a normal level (hyperglycemia). The treatment goal for all types
of diabetes is the same - keep blood glucose levels as close to a healthy
range as possible, most of the time, to avoid long-term damage.
