Understanding Diabetes

Diabetes is an incurable metabolic disorder. In the United States, diabetes is the fourth highest cause of death. Glucose other wise known as sugar is the human body's main source of energy. Glucose is significantly vital when it comes to the functions of your brain . When an individuals glucose level or blood sugar as it is commonly referred too, drops below a certain level the brain has a hard time with memory or critical thinking tasks.

When you digest foods that contain carbohydrates such as dessert items or vegetables, your body begins to produce glucose. Once the digestive process ends , glucose enters into the bloodstream. Your body's cells depend on glucose to have energy and to flourish. Cells cannot absorb glucose without insulin being present in the bloodstream as well. Insulin originates from within the pancreas.The pancreas is a gland that is a member of the endocrine system and the digestive system. It is a member of the endocrine system since it emits glycogen, somatostatin and insulin. The pancreas aids digestion by releasing pancreatic juice . Pancreatic juice supports the digestive process by breaking fats and proteins down before entering the small intestine .In a healthy body your pancreas secretes the exact amount of insulin required by the cells to utilize the glucose. In a diabetic person the pancreas produces minuscule amounts of insulin and in some instances none at all. If there is no insulin within the bloodstream, glucose will build up. When there is a glucose overload in the body, the glucose will leave the body via an individuals urine. Diabetes simplified is essentially having sugar overwhelm your bloodstream and not having any energy for your body to use.

There are three classifications of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes refers to individuals who either have the juvenile onset of the disease or require daily doses of Insulin in order to survive.The second type of diabetes refers to diabetes that result from obesity, a sedentary lifestyle,advanced age, genetic predisposition and even your ethnicity can be a factor in it. 95% of diabetics have type 2 diabetes. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy. African Americans, Hispanic Americans and Native Americans have higher rates of gestational diabetes than other ethnic backgrounds. The previously named ethnic backgrounds also have higher occurrences of type 2 diabetes. Women who suffer from gestational diabetes are more inclined to develop type 2 diabetes within a decade.

Sources:
American Diabetes Association