“What is diabetes?” is the most commonly asked question as the disease is spreading like an epidemic all over the world. It is a common disease and is a life long health related complication.
Unfortunately there are more than 2 million people suffering from this chronic ailment. Even more alarming stats say that of this figure there are 500,000 people who are not aware of their medical condition.
It is important to know the answer of “what is diabetes?” so that condition can be treated the moment it starts to step its foot in the body of the person.
So to know the answer of “what is diabetes”; let’s dig in
Diabetes is a medical condition in which the amount of sugar present in the bloodstream becomes higher than normal; as the body is unable to utilize the provided sugar properly. This situation occurs as the pancreas fails to produce the required amount of insulin. The insulin is the hormone that helps the glucose to enter in the cells of the body. In the cells the glucose is converted into energy. The condition in which insulin is being produced by the pancreas but it is not utilized properly is termed insulin resistance.
The hormone insulin is produced by the pancreas. Insulin is the door key of the cells. It allows the glucose to enter in the cells where they can be converted into energy. This energy helps the person to play, work and perform other bodily functions. In other words it permits us to live our lives. This energy produced by the cells is vital for the life of the person.
Glucose enters in the body by digesting the carbohydrates. Carbohydrates are also produced by the liver. It comes from different kinds of drinks as well as foods. These mainly include starchy foods like potatoes, bread, chapattis, fruits, dairy products and sugar.
If the person is suffering from diabetes the body is unable to utilize the glucose properly. So the glucose starts to build up in the bloodstream of the person where it can be used as fuel.