- Diabetes occurs when the body cannot use the glucose properly due to a lack of insulin or the insulin produced is not working effectively. Insulin is a hormone that acts like a key to open the door of your cell to let glucose in. If glucose cannot get into the cell, where it is needed for energy, it builds up in the bloodstream. Over time this excess glucose can cause damage to blood cells.
- There are 2 main types of diabetes: Type 1 (lack of insulin) and Type 2 (ineffective use of insulin)
- Your Pancreas is the organ in the body responsible for making a hormone called Insulin. Insulin makes your body turn glucose (sugars) from your food into energy. In diabetes, the pancreas makes too little insulin to enable all the sugar in your blood to get into your muscle and other cells to produce energy. If it can’t get into the cells it builds up in your bloodstream leading to high blood sugar levels.
