Diabetes is a disease of excess sugar in the blood, known as glucose. It is equally important to understand where it can occur. For example, if there’s excess glucose present in a person’s body but not in the blood at that moment, then the glucose can cause undiagnosed diabetes. Similarly, some locations are more prone to diabetes than others. Understanding where and when does it occur is important for early detection, prevention, and control. The pancreas produces insulin to control glucose levels within the body. When the pancreas is healthy enough, it releases sufficient amounts of insulin into the bloodstream so that no excess glucose remains after it has been used by cells for energy. However, when an individual develops type 1 or type 2 diabetes, their pancreas’s ability to produce insulin decreases or fails completely.
Where is Diabetes Most Common?
This type of diabetes is most common in people who are older than 60 years old, with about 1 in 4 people being diagnosed with it by age 80. People of Asian descent are the least likely to develop it. It is also less common in African Americans and Hispanics, and people with these ethnicities are more likely to have insulin-resistant diabetes. Type 2 diabetes is common in obese individuals as well as in people who are overweight. Obesity occurs when an individual’s body fat is too high. A high body fat percentage occurs when an individual’s body fat percentage is greater than 30% or more than 9% above their ideal body weight.
Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin. The primary symptoms are recurrent episodes of hyperglycemia, or high blood glucose. About 1 percent of all diabetes is type 1 diabetes. It is characterized by a rapid and continuous immune attack on the pancreas, which results in its destruction. The attack is called an autoimmune response, and it occurs because the pancreas produces insulin, which helps glucose move into the cells to be used as energy. If the immune system destroys the pancreas, it leaves the body without insulin and with high blood glucose.
Type 2 diabetes
This form of diabetes develops when the body is unable to produce enough insulin to use glucose in the blood as energy. The amount of insulin present in the body determines how much glucose is taken up by cells. When there is a problem with insulin secretion or insulin action, this process malfunctions. About half of all cases of diabetes are type 2, and it occurs at a much younger age than type 1. It is more common in overweight and obese individuals, and it is strongly related to a person’s genetics.
Risk Factors for Type 2 Diabetes
Obesity. Being obese increases the risk of developing type 2 diabetes because the body has trouble regulating insulin levels properly due to excess body fat. In fact, almost all type 2 diabetes is due to excess body fat. However, certain types of muscle resistance can also contribute to insulin resistance, which means that some people who are not obese can develop type 2 diabetes. Discover How to COMPLETELY REVERSE Type 2 Diabetes with An All Natural, Proven Method!
Gestational Diabetes
Gestational diabetes is a temporary condition that sometimes occurs during pregnancy. Women who are pregnant are sometimes insulin resistant, and this leads to high blood glucose after they eat a meal. A hormonal change causes insulin resistance in the body, but the hormones that regulate the glucose level in the blood are the same as they were before pregnancy. This means that there is no change in insulin levels, but the glucose level remains high. Gestational diabetes usually goes away after the baby is born. If it does not, it is a condition that should be watched carefully by a doctor. It is sometimes treated with medications that decrease blood glucose levels.
Conclusion
When your blood glucose level is too high, it damages nerves and blood vessels. This can cause heart disease, stroke, vision problems, kidney disease, and amputations. In order for diabetes to occur, there must be glucose in the blood, but not enough insulin to help the glucose enter cells for energy. By understanding where and when it can occur, you can better understand this disease and its prevention and treatment options.