Diabetes is a chronic (lifelong) disease marked by high levels
of sugar in the blood. Causes, incidence, and risk factors:
Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas to control blood
sugar. Diabetes can be caused by too little insulin, resistance
to insulin, or both. To understand diabetes, it is important to
first understand the normal process by which food is broken down
and used by the body for energy. Several things happen when food
is digested: - A sugar called glucose enters the bloodstream.
Glucose is a source of fuel for the body. - An organ called the
pancreas makes insulin. The role of insulin is to move glucose
from the bloodstream into muscle, fat, and liver cells, where it
can be used as fuel. People with diabetes have high blood sugar.
This is because: - Their pancreas does not make enough insulin -
Their muscle, fat, and liver cells do not respond to insulin
normally - Both of the above There are three major types of
diabetes: Type 1 diabetes is usually diagnosed in childhood.
Many patients