Understanding Diabetes and How It Works in Our Bodies

There is just no way around it, Diabetes is a very serious and dangerous disease if left untreated and unmanaged.  In some cases it still may be very dangerous because of not being able to control it.  So what most of us who have it want to know is how it works on our bodies systems.  I have gotten some general answers to the question but I want to know exactly how it affects my body. 

Diabetes is being redefined as an Autoimmune Disease.  It is a Metabolic Disease at this time.  What does this mean? 

1.  Autioammune Disease:   An illness that occurs when the body tissues are attacked by its own immune system. The immune system is a complex organization within the body that is designed normally to "seek and destroy" invaders of the body, including infectious agents. Patients with autoimmune diseases frequently have unusual antibodies circulating in their blood that target their own body tissues.
Source:  http://www.medterms.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=2402

2.  Metabolic Disorder:  Metabolic disorders: Disorders that affect the metabolic system in human. Metabolic disorders: A congenital (due to inherited enzyme abnormality) or acquired (due to failure of a metabolic important organ) disorder resulting from an abnormal metabolic process. -- 2003
Source:  http://www.rightdiagnosis.com/m/metabolic_disorders/basics.htm

What happens to my Body During The Diabetic Disease Process?  Metabolic disorders develop when normal metabolic processes are disturbed. Normally, food is broken down by the body into simpler components (proteins, fats and sugars) in a highly regulated manner. Metabolic disorders are defined by a breakdown in any one of the steps of this complex process. Disorders in metabolism can be inherited, in which case they are known as inborn errors of metabolism, or they may be acquired.
Source:  http://www.localhealth.com/article/metabolic-disorders

Type 1 Diabetes:  Do not Produce Insuline
Type 2 Diabetes:  Are Insuline Resistant meaning they produce it but the cells are resistant to it. 

The body does not effectively produce insulin, and it is more difficult for the glucose to enter the cells. The pancreas may try to make more insulin, but the cells do not respond. High levels of glucose build up in the bloodstream. 
Source:  http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4567479_diabetes-affect-body.html

The added sugar or glucose in the blood vessels damages the walls, allowing cholesterol to build up and creating poor circulation.

What is Glucose: 
Glucose is a sugar serving as the fuel that provides energy for the body's cells. Your liver produces some glucose and your body gets the rest by digesting sugars, starches, and other foods you eat.
Source:  http://www.healthcommunities.com/understanding-diabetes/diabetes-mellitus-overview.shtml

Insulin is a hormone produced by beta cells in a part of the pancreas known as the islets of Langerhans. Insulin controls how much glucose the liver produces and also helps to move glucose from the bloodstream into your cells, where it is needed as a source of energy.
The uptake of glucose into your cells occurs through a complex series of events. It begins when insulin attaches ("binds") to receptor sites on the surface of cells in muscles and other tissues and causes carrier proteins (called glucose transporters) to move from inside the cell to the cell's surface. Like little dump trucks, these transport proteins deliver glucose from outside the cell to the inside. Without the initial binding of insulin to the receptor sites, glucose enters the cells too slowly.  Source:  http://www.healthcommunities.com/understanding-diabetes/diabetes-mellitus-overview.shtml

If you do nothing to treat this disease such as diet and excercise, then complications can occur in the form of Nerve damage, Heart problems, Liver problems, Kidney problems, Eye Problems, Dementia or Alzhiemers, and even Limb Amputations and Coma or Death.

If you have these syptoms consult your physician immediately to get a check up:  Excessive thirst, Frequent Urination, Blurry Vision, Dizzyness, Heart palpatations, High blood pressure, Numbness or Tinglinging in the Legs, Feet or Hands.  Diabetes is a very serious Condition and should not be taken lightly.

I hope this information has helped you to understand how it works within our body systems.  I know that as a team we can keep informed and share what knowledge we have with each other to become more aware and to be able to live healthier as a Diabetic community.

If you have information would like to write a segment for this blog or would like questions answered for you as a Diabetic or a caregiver of a Diabetic contact me at  diabetic.day2013@gmail.com together we can take care of each other and give each other support.