What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes is a disorder characterized by hyperglycemia or elevated blood glucose (blood sugar). Our bodies function best at a certain level of sugar in the bloodstream. If the amount of sugar in our blood runs too high or too low, then we typically feel bad.  Diabetes is the name of the condition where the blood sugar level consistently runs too high. Diabetes is the most common endocrine disorder. Sixteen million Americans have diabetes, yet many are not aware of it.

African Americans, Hispanics and Native Americans have a higher rate of developing diabetes during their lifetime.  Diabetes has potential long term complications that can affect the kidneys, eyes, heart, blood vessels and nerves.

Although most tend to group all diabetic patients together, there are actually two different types, both of which have a common denominator of elevated blood sugar levels.

The two major subgroups of diabetes are Type 1 and Type 2.

• Type 1 is caused by an insulin deficiency, the result of not enough insulin being created by the pancreas due to a malfunction of their insulin producing cells.
• Type 2 is the result of an insulin resistance which occurs when there is plenty of insulin made by the pancreas (it is functioning normally and making plenty of insulin), but the cells of the body are resistant to it's action, resulting in the blood sugar being too high.

To return to the “Weight Control” Gateway page, click HERE

To return to the HOME page, click HERE

To leave a comment, click HERE