What is Diabetes?
Diabetes is a lifelong condition affecting how our body turns food into energy. When we eat, our body breaks down food into glucose which is a form of sugar that then enters our bloodstream. When this happens, our pancreas releases a hormone known as insulin. Insulin acts like a key, allowing glucose to enter our cells and be used as fuel.
In diabetes, this process doesn’t work as it should. This happens for two reasons, either our body doesn’t make enough insulin, or our body is unable to effectively use the insulin it makes. What this does is it causes glucose to build up in our blood instead of fuelling our cells. If left untreated, over time, high blood glucose can have a detrimental effect on the body, with an ability to damage our heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves. Falling under endocrinology, managing diabetes is essential for long-term health and to prevent complications from developing down the line. Working with a diabetes specialist can make all the difference.
