Over 10% of Americans are living life with diabetes (American Diabetes Association, 2019). Diabetes is a metabolic disease that occurs when there is an irregularity in blood glucose levels. Blood glucose is the body’s main source of energy and it is derived from the food that you eat. Insulin plays a large role in diabetes. Insulin is a hormone that is secreted by the pancreas, the main job of insulin is to help blood glucose from food get into the cells in order to be converted to energy.
The three most common types of diabetes are, type 1, type 2 and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is when the body does not make sufficient insulin. This type of diabetes is often diagnosed earlier in life, but can appear at any age. A type 1 diabetic needs to take insulin in order to regulate their body’s inability to make sufficient insulin. Type 2 diabetes is when the body does not make or use insulin appropriately. This is the more common of the two diabetes. Gestational diabetes is not talked about as often; however, it is a development that can occur in women when they are pregnant. Typically, this type of diabetes goes away after childbirth. Although, having gestational diabetes does increase the chances of having type 2 diabetes later on in life.
Diabetes can be managed through healthy eating habits and insulin regulation. It is important to manage this disease because high glucose levels can lead to other health problems including: eye problems, kidney disease, heart disease, and stroke.
“Statistics About Diabetes.” Statistics About Diabetes | ADA, May 2019, http://www.diabetes.org/resources/statistics/statistics-about-diabetes.
“What Is Diabetes?” National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1 Dec. 2016, http://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes.
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