Diabetes
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A condition about blood sugar balance
Diabetes is a long-term health condition that affects how the body turns food into energy. When we eat, most of the food is broken down into sugar, also called glucose. This sugar goes into the blood and gives energy to the body’s cells. The hormone insulin, made by the pancreas, helps the sugar move from the blood into the cells. In people with diabetes, this process does not work as it should, and too much sugar stays in the blood.
There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes happens when the body’s immune system attacks the pancreas and stops it from making insulin. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day to control their blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes happens when the body still makes insulin but does not use it properly. This is called insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes is more common and often develops slowly over time.
When the body cannot balance blood sugar, it can cause different symptoms. Common signs of diabetes include feeling very thirsty, urinating often, feeling tired, and losing weight without trying. If blood sugar stays high for a long time, it can lead to health problems with the heart, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. However, with good care and regular medical help, people with diabetes can stay healthy.
Doctors can test for diabetes using a blood test to measure the amount of sugar in the blood. There are also tests to check how well insulin is working in the body. Treatment depends on the type of diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes use insulin through injections or a pump. People with type 2 diabetes may take medicine that helps their body use insulin better or lower blood sugar.
Insulin was discovered in the early 1920s by scientists Frederick Banting and Charles Best, which changed how diabetes could be treated. Before that, diabetes was very hard to manage. Today, doctors and scientists continue to learn more about the condition and how to help people live well with it.
Diabetes can affect anyone, including children and adults. It is important to understand how the body uses sugar and insulin. Knowing how diabetes works helps people care for themselves and recognize the signs early.
There are two main types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes happens when the body’s immune system attacks the pancreas and stops it from making insulin. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin every day to control their blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes happens when the body still makes insulin but does not use it properly. This is called insulin resistance. Type 2 diabetes is more common and often develops slowly over time.
When the body cannot balance blood sugar, it can cause different symptoms. Common signs of diabetes include feeling very thirsty, urinating often, feeling tired, and losing weight without trying. If blood sugar stays high for a long time, it can lead to health problems with the heart, eyes, kidneys, and nerves. However, with good care and regular medical help, people with diabetes can stay healthy.
Doctors can test for diabetes using a blood test to measure the amount of sugar in the blood. There are also tests to check how well insulin is working in the body. Treatment depends on the type of diabetes. People with type 1 diabetes use insulin through injections or a pump. People with type 2 diabetes may take medicine that helps their body use insulin better or lower blood sugar.
Insulin was discovered in the early 1920s by scientists Frederick Banting and Charles Best, which changed how diabetes could be treated. Before that, diabetes was very hard to manage. Today, doctors and scientists continue to learn more about the condition and how to help people live well with it.
Diabetes can affect anyone, including children and adults. It is important to understand how the body uses sugar and insulin. Knowing how diabetes works helps people care for themselves and recognize the signs early.
What We Can Learn
- Diabetes is when the body cannot control blood sugar properly.
- Insulin helps move sugar from blood into the body’s cells.
- There are two main types: type 1 and type 2 diabetes.
- Doctors use blood tests and medicine to help manage diabetes.
