What is diabetes?
Diabetes is a condition where the body cannot control the blood sugar levels so they swing abnormally high or low
In someone who is healthy, the body is able to keep the blood sugar levels in a normal range. For example when you eat, your blood sugar goes up and your body secretes insulin* to bring it back down; and when you haven’t eaten for a long time your body will actually produce sugar so that it doesn’t go too low. On the other hand, in someone with diabetes, the body is either not producing insulin or is not using the insulin well so it is not able to control the blood sugar the way it is supposed to.
*Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas. The pancreas is a small gland that lies behind the stomach.
Diabetes is a condition where the body cannot control the blood sugar levels so they swing abnormally high or low
In someone who is healthy, the body is able to keep the blood sugar levels in a normal range. For example when you eat, your blood sugar goes up and your body secretes insulin* to bring it back down; and when you haven’t eaten for a long time your body will actually produce sugar so that it doesn’t go too low. On the other hand, in someone with diabetes, the body is either not producing insulin or is not using the insulin well so it is not able to control the blood sugar the way it is supposed to.
*Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas. The pancreas is a small gland that lies behind the stomach.