About Diabetes - Diabetic Testing Supplies by Mail

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About Diabetes

Diabetic Testing Supplies by Mail

What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a disorder of metabolism--the way our bodies use digested food for growth and energy. Most of the food we eat is broken down into glucose, the form of sugar in the blood. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body.

After digestion, glucose passes into the bloodstream, where it is used by cells for growth and energy. For glucose to get into cells, insulin must be present. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach.

When we eat, the pancreas is supposed to automatically produce the right amount of insulin to move glucose from blood into our cells. In people with diabetes, however, the pancreas either produces little or no insulin, or the cells do not respond appropriately to the insulin that is produced. Glucose builds up in the blood, overflows into the urine, and passes out of the body. Thus, the body loses its main source of fuel even though the blood contains large amounts of glucose.

How Insulin Works in the Body
When food is digested, the sugar in the food enters the blood. The sugar in the blood must enter body cells before it can be used to make energy. When there is enough insulin in the blood and on the outside of the cell, it acts like a key. Sugar enters the cell through the sugar entrances and the level of sugar in the blood drops.

What are the Types of Diabetes?
TYPE 1
In type 1 diabetes, the body makes little or no insulin. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin shots to live. That is why type 1 diabetes is also called "insulin-dependent diabetes." Less than 10% (1 of 10) of people with diabetes have type 1. Although it most often begins when people are young, it may also occur in older adults. Click here to learn more about Type 1 Diabetes

TYPE 2
The most common form of diabetes is type 2 diabetes. About 90 to 95 percent of people with diabetes have type 2. This form of diabetes usually develops in adults age 40 and older and is most common in adults over age 55. About 80 percent of people with type 2 diabetes are overweight. Type 2 diabetes is often part of a metabolic syndrome that includes obesity, elevated blood pressure, and high levels of blood lipids. Unfortunately, as more children become overweight, type 2 diabetes is becoming more common in young people. Click here to learn more about Type 2 Diabetes