When glucose in our blood stream reaches heightened proportions, it is because the body is not in a position to use it properly. The reason this happens is because the pancreas isn’t producing any insulin, or not enough insulin to help glucose enter your body’s cells. It could also be that the insulin being produced doesn’t work properly.
So what is insulin?
This is the hormone produced by the pancreas that allows glucose to enter the body’s cells, where it is used as fuel for energy. It goes without saying that insulin is vital for life. Glucose in our bodies comes from digesting carbohydrate and is also produced by the liver. When glucose isn’t able to enter the body’s cells to be used as fuel to carry out our daily activities, then it’s an indication that you could have diabetes. In other words if you have diabetes, your body cannot make proper use of glucose, so it builds up in the blood and can’t be used as fuel.
Types of diabetes
There are two main types of diabetes which are Type 1 and Type 2.
Type 1 means there is no insulin to unlock the cells.
Type 2 implies that there is not enough insulin or the insulin is there but not working properly.
The following is a diagram that illustrates the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
Source: www.diabetes.org.uk
Bertha Mukodzani is a registered Recovery Nurse Theatre Practitioner and author of the book ‘A Life Steered.‘
