What is Diabetes?
The food you eat is broken down into glucose and released into the bloodstream. The rise in blood glucose signals pancreas to release insulin which functions to let the cells use the glucose for energy. hen there isn’t enough insulin or cells stop responding to insulin, too much blood sugar stays in your bloodstream. Over time, that can cause serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss and kidney disease.
There are three different types of diabetes:
Type 1 Diabetes which is an autoimmune condition that destroys the insulin producing pancreatic cells. Approximately 5-10% of people diagnosed with diabetes have type 1 which is generally evident in childhood or adolescent years. There is no cure or prevention for type 1 diabetes. Patient with type 1 diabetes have to use insulin daily to survive.
Type 2 Diabetes is due the body not being able to utilize the insulin produced by the pancreas due to reduced sensitivity. Most adults have type 2 diabetes. You may not have any symptoms, so it’s important to get your blood sugar tested to screen. Type 2 diabetes can be prevented or delayed with healthy lifestyle changes, such as losing weight, eating healthy food, and being active.
Gestational diabetes develops in pregnant women predisposing them to higher risk of diabetes later in life.
Prediabetes
In United States, 1 in 3 adults have prediabetes which is when blood sugars are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. If not intervened early on with timely screening and lifestyle changes it will progress to type 2 diabetes. People with prediabetes are also at high risk for having heart disease and stroke.
Call (346)500-5342 or email at info@katyfulshearim.com to find out how we can help with lifestyle changes and diabetes management.
