Could you please tell about diabetes?

Diabetes results when insulin producing cells in the pancreas cannot produce insulin. Insulin normally circulates in the blood and has the task of "picking up" glucose from the blood and transporting glucose to the cells, and helping glucose enters the cells. When insulin-producing cells stop producing insulin OR cannot produce enough insulin, glucose cannot get to cells--- this causes, as just one symptom, tiredness. Physically, the body still has to do something with the glucose, since it doesn't get into the cells. So, the circulating glucose gets dropped off and stored in fat cells, which eventually creates weight gain. However, since the person is not getting the benefit of the glucose--and its conversion to energy by the cells-- the person experiences extreme fatigue as just one symptom. When the person receives exogenous (external) insulin, in the form of injections, the glucose is able to get into the cells.


Many people erroneously believe that being diabetic occurs only because the person is obese. BUT, it is much more complicated than that. Many people develop diabetes but are not obese.

It is true that diabetes can develop when a person is overweight, eats improperly, and does not exercise. In these cases, there is too much glucose, from foods, and the pancreas cannot keep up with production of insulin. The pancreas works overtime, until the insulin producing cells die. The person can reduce circulating glucose through balanced meals, balanced portions, exercise, and sometimes oral medication. But once the pancreas stops producing insulin, the person will need injections.

Another fallacy concerns food and drinks. Diabetics must restrict certain foods, in particular "white flour" foods, such as bread, cake, cookies, etc. and reduce high sugar foods. BUT that does not mean a person with diabetes cannot ever eat or drink items with sugar or white flour. Instead, diabetics must learn to balance choices and portions and keep track of what they eat--- if they've been following the diabetic food exchanges, then there's no problem with including a dessert or high sugar food/drink. They simply need to balance that choice so they don't go over their recommended calorie intake and food choices.


Diabetes can lead to numerous related health problems, including:

• heart disease and heart attack
• thickened blood vessel walls
• peripheral and systemic neuropathy
• organ damage
• damage to eyes and eyesight
• damage to the brain
• impaired circulation leading to peripheral amputations (toes, foot, below the knee, above the knee)