What is Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease in which our bodies do not produce enough "Insulin" or effective insulin. Most of the components of your meal contain sugar. When you eat food, it is broken down into simple sugar called glucose. This glucose is taken by blood and it travels there freely till it is used by the cells to produce energy. Your cells use glucose to produce energy to do work such as our daily activities of walking, sitting, running and so on.

Apart from this, your body needs glucose for the proper functioning all the organs such as brain, heart, muscles, kidneys, lungs and so on. However, insulin is required for the uptake of glucose by the cells. Without insulin our bodies are not able to use glucose effectively and our blood sugar levels increases. A gland in our bodies, known as, "Pancreas" produces the exact amount of insulin, to breakdown the sugar produced in the body. A particular type of cells, known as, Beta Cells produce insulin in pancreas.

A person can have diabetes because of any of the following:
Beta cells can not prepare insulin that is required by the body.
The insulin produced is not sufficient for body’s requirement.
The insulin produced is not effective.

Symptoms of Diabetes

Individuals can experience different warning signs, and sometimes there may be no obvious warning, but some of the signs are commonly experienced:
Extreme thirst and a dry mouth (Polydypsia)
Frequent urination (Polyuria)
Extreme hunger (Polyphagia)
Extreme tiredness/lack of energy
Sudden weight loss
Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet
Sore or wounds that heal slowly
Recurrent infections
Blurred vision
Irritability