A Diabetes Primer

The first thing that comes to mind for many when they hear diabetes is sugar. While sugar plays a big part in this disease, there's much more to this chronic condition.

Diabetes is a metabolic disorder, meaning it affects how the body breaks down food to create energy through insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas.

Food is converted into glucose when you eat. As the amount of glucose in the blood rises, beta cells in the pancreas trigger insulin release. This hormone acts like a key, unlocking and allowing cells to use glucose for energy.

However, diabetes thwarts that process because it affects insulin production. There are two main types:

Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, is a chronic disorder. According to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, 1.6 million Americans live with Type 1, including 200,000 people under age 20. In these cases, the body cannot produce insulin on its own. The CDC explains this autoimmune disease incorrectly identifies and attacks beta cells used by the pancreas to create insulin. The pancreas can no longer produce insulin, so cells can't absorb glucose. As a result, the amount of glucose in the blood gets dangerously high. Researchers aren't sure what causes type 1 diabetes, but they believe genetics play a role. There is no cure for Type 1 diabetes, but it can be managed through a treatment plan determined by a doctor.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common type and a chronic condition. The CDC reports 1 in 10 Americans have diabetes, and more than 90% of those are Type 2 cases. Sugar levels (glucose) build up in your bloodstream if you have this condition. Your cells stop responding to insulin, or the pancreas can't make enough insulin to meet the body's demand. However, Type 2 diabetes is preventable with the right lifestyle choices, including maintaining an appropriate weight, increasing physical activity and eating a balanced diet.

If unmanaged, diabetes can take a toll on your health and lead to heart disease, slow-healing wounds and even death. But the good news is that both types of diabetes respond well to treatment. If you have diabetes, work with your physician regularly to monitor and control your condition.

Diabetes Glossary

• A1C: a test that measures blood glucose averages for the past two or three months
• Dextrose: another name for glucose
• Endocrinologist: a doctor who treats endocrine system disorders, including diabetes
• Gestational diabetes: diabetes that occurs during pregnancy
• Glycemic index: a scale that ranks foods based on how they affect blood sugar
• Hyperglycemia: having too much glucose in the blood
• Hypoglycemia: having too little glucose in the blood
• Ketoacidosis: medical emergency caused by high levels of glucose in the blood
• Polyuria: having to urinate frequently, a common side effect of diabetes
• Prediabetes: when blood glucose levels are elevated but don't qualify as diabetes

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