Diabetes

• Diabetes is a condition resulting from problems regulating blood sugar levels.
• Glucose is required to provide energy, and it enters our bodies when we consume carbohydrates.
• In a healthy individual, the pancreas secretes the hormone insulin, allowing body cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream.
• Diabetes is categorised into two types: Type 1 and Type 2.
• Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune disease, is a condition where the pancreas can’t produce insulin. This typically develops in childhood.
• In Type 1 diabetes, No insulin leads to an inability to absorb glucose from the bloodstream, thus resulting in high blood sugar levels.
• For those with Type 1 diabetes, regular insulin injections are necessary to manage blood sugar levels. They also need regular monitoring of their blood sugar.
• Type 2 diabetes is a condition where the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or the body’s cells don’t react to insulin. This form of diabetes usually develops later in life.
• Lifestyle factors such as obesity increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.
• Management of Type 2 diabetes typically involves dietary changes, regular exercise, and possibly medication to increase insulin sensitivity or production.
• In both types, unmanaged diabetes can lead to serious health consequences like heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, and nerve damage.
• The hormone glucagon plays a key role in regulating blood glucose levels also. When blood sugar levels drop, glucagon is released from the pancreas, prompting the liver to convert stored glycogen into glucose and release it into the bloodstream.
• Insulin and glucagon operate in a negative feedback loop, helping to keep blood glucose levels relatively stable.
• Understanding these processes of regulation and response is important in managing diabetes. It is also an illustration of how various systems in the body work together to maintain homeostasis.