What Is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition where the body is unable to regulate the level of glucose (a sugar) in the blood, resulting in too much glucose being present in the blood.
The word Diabetes was coined by Aretaeus, which literally means “passing through” or “siphon”, a reference to one of the main symptoms of Diabetes - excessive urine discharge.
Glucose is the main sugar that comes from the digestion of the foods that we eat and the liquids that we drink. For example, breads, cereals, dairy foods (such as milk), fruits, and some vegetables that contain carbohydrate in the forms of starches and sugars. When eaten, these are broken down in our digestive tract and absorbed into the blood stream as glucose. Glucose is the simplest form of sugar and is vital for providing energy for cells to function and grow. Glucose travels via the blood stream to all of the organs and muscles in the body, where it is used as a fuel so that the organs can continue to function properly. The normal / safe level for glucose in the blood is between 3.5 and 7.8 mmol/l (milli-moles per liter).
If an excess of glucose occurs in the blood, then the excess is processed by the liver where it is converted into a form where it can be stored for future use.
The blood glucose level is regulated by insulin, a hormone made in the islet cells in the pancreas. Insulin enables the body’s cells to absorb and use glucose. Without sufficient levels of insulin, glucose from the blood in not able to enter the body’s cells, and it therefore cannot be used as a fuel to support their continued function.
Diabetes occurs when there is too much glucose in the blood. Or, to be more precise, diabetes occurs when the body is unable to regulate the level of glucose in the blood, resulting in too much glucose being present.
Over time, the high blood glucose levels, as a result of diabetes, may cause serious complications such as damaged blood vessels and nerve cells, leading to damaged eyes, nerves and kidneys and an increased risk of heart attack, stroke, impotence, and foot problems.