Diabetes is a chronic disease that undermines the body’s metabolizing of food into energy. Upon consumption, food eaten is mostly digested into glucose that is then released into the blood. This raises the level of glucose in the blood, which stimulates insulin release from the pancreas. Insulin triggers the cells to take in blood sugar to be used as energy. Diabetes is when the body fails to manufacture adequate insulin or use it as it should. Diabetes is a serious disease that impacts the body’s metabolism and can lead to adverse health outcomes if unaddressed.
Without adequate insulin or when cells fail to react to the presence of insulin, glucose accumulates in the bloodstream, which can cause serious health conditions. Insulin is only one of the hormones related to glucose usage. The others include glucagon, cortisol, epinephrine, growth hormone, amylin, GLP-1, and glucose-dependent insulinotropic peptide (GIP) (Lutz et al., 2014). These hormones are meant to keep the concentration of blood sugar at a narrow range that allows for optimal functioning.
Diabetes falls into three main classes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is when the body attacks itself, keeping it from manufacturing insulin and there is no known cure (CDC, 2021). Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body fails to consume insulin as needed and blood glucose rises to abnormal levels. Gestational diabetes affects pregnant women that do not have a history of diabetes. This type usually goes away after birth but it increases the risk of the affected individual developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
There is no known cure for diabetes but it can be managed in several ways including exercising, eating healthy food, maintaining a healthy weight and taking insulin and medication. However, acute diabetes complications like hypoglycaemia, hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic coma, and diabetic ketoacidosis can stand in the way of these interventions. These complications limit movement, diet, activity intensity, and generally the implementation of the interventions meant to manage the condition.
Diabetes is one of the most prevalent diseases in the United States caused when the body fails to optimally metabolize food into energy. The condition falls into three main classifications, type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes. There is no known cure for diabetes but there are several interventions to manage it including exercising, eating healthy food, and staying active. However, acute complication can stand in the way of effective intervention implementation.
References
CDC. (2021). What is Diabetes?Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Lutz, C. A., Mazur, E., & Litch, N. (2014). Nutrition and diet therapy. FA Davis.