Diabetes - Basic Facts
Diabetes is not like other health problems you may have had in the past. There is no cure for diabetes, and the treatment and care that is needed is constant. So many things contribute to keeping the disease under control, from the diet of the patient to medications, exercise and consistent blood sugar levels. In truth the patient is far more responsible than the doctor for treating diabetes. So much of the day to day treatment is in the diabetic person's hands. He or she must learn as much about diabetes as possible. We will use the terms glucose and sugar interchangeably, but glucose is the more correct term since there are many different sugars.
Diabetes is quite common. At least one in every sixteen people has diabetes. Blood sugar levels should improve with treatment. However, this does not mean that diabetes has gone away. It just means that your blood sugars are in control. What you do every day determines what your blood sugar level will be. It is common for the your doctor to change your medicine or treatment plan over time because your diabetes changes over time.
There are two main types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2. When you have diabetes, your body can't properly use the energy from the food you eat. This problem comes from your body's inability to make and use insulin. Insulin is a substance made in your pancreas that helps to keep your blood sugar in the normal range.
In type 1 diabetes, there is an insulin deficiency. Your body makes little or no insulin. There is not enough insulin in the blood to unlock the cells and allow sugar to pass. In type 2 diabetes, usually there is insulin resistance. Your body makes insulin but your cells cannot use it properly. Eventually your ability to make insulin gradually decreases as time goes by and can become insulin deficient.
In both types of diabetes, sugar builds up in your bloodstream because it cannot enter the cells. Without sugar for fuel, your body lacks energy. The sugar stays in your blood and you have high blood sugar levels. High blood sugar levels can damage your blood vessels, and over a long period of time can result in serious long-term problems.