Diabetes Basics
Glucose And Insulin: The Diabetic Connection
Glucose is our prime source of energy. During
digestion, it is produced as a result of conversion of carbohydrates
into a chemical that can be easily converted in to energy. Our body gets
most of the glucose by digesting the sugar and starch present in
carbohydrates. Foods such as rice, pasta, grain, potatoes, fruits, a few
vegetables, and processed sweets are known to be rich in carbohydrates.
Our digestive system, using bile and enzymes breaks down the starch and
sugar available in these foods into glucose. This functional form of
energy thereafter enters into the bloodstream.
A chemical known as insulin, excreted by the pancreas, meets the glucose
and helps it to enter cells in muscles and brain. So, it is a vital form
of energy which interacts with both- the digestive and endocrine system.
Hence, keeping glucose within a normal range is very important for good
health. All the same, at any step in the process, there can arise
problems in keeping the right amount of glucose circulating in the blood.
But,
sometimes it happens that pancreas do not produce required amount of
insulin to regulate the glucose and sometimes insulin is unable to use
glucose in the proper manner. The lack of insulin in the body directly
leads to the development of type 1 diabetes. And when the insulin is
produced by the pancreas adequately but the body is unable to use that
insulin in proper manner then there occurs type 2 diabetes.
There
is also another type of diabetes that occurs because of insulin
disturbances. It is the gestational diabetes. It occurs due to
production of certain hormones that have blocking effects on the
insulin. Insulin is therefore the prime connection and cause of all
types of diabetes.