Diabetes is a chronic condition due to the body’s inability to sufficiently produce and/or properly use insulin, which is required to use sugar as an energy source. Diabetes can lead to serious complications and premature death but those who have diabetes can take steps to control the disease and lower the risk of complications.

There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2.

But there is also gestational and pre-diabetes.

How does metabolism in the human body work?
Glucose is the main source of energy source our body uses. It is metabolized in our body by a hormone called insulin. Insulin is responsible for up-taking glucose from the body and into the cell so that it can be transformed into the energy the body can use – for movement, breathing, heart beats, firing neurons in the nervous system (brain), and 10000000+ other activities). People with diabetes either do not produce en,tough insulin or their bodies produce enough insulin but it cannot be recognized properly. Therefore, if there is an inadequate amount of insulin or insulin is not recognized, glucose is not transported from the body into the cells, energy cannot be transformed, and the body will not function properly.

Type 1

Insulin

The beta cells of the pancreas are destroyed by the immune system therefore cannot produce insulin which the body needs in adequate supply to help it function. There is no known way to prevent type 1 diabetes; it usually develops in childhood or adolescence. Five to 10% of people with diabetes have type 1.

Type 2

According to Diabetes Canada (2016), there are currently more than 11 million Canadians who are living with diabetes or pre-diabetes and this number is projecting to 13.9 million people by 2026. That is a 41% increase in less than 10 years!