Two types of Diabetes
Diabetes is described by the bodys inability to produce insulin, type 1 diabetes, or to respond to insulin, type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes represents 90 % of all diabetes patients and is characterized by defects in insulin sensitivity leading to the disruption of normal glucose metabolism.
Insulin
The major function of insulin is to take care of food components entering into the blood circulation during feeding. One of these components, glucose, is rapidly being taken care of after feeding and stored away in different cells for later use. It is very important to maintain a very precise glucose level in the blood-circulation. To much will damage cells (organs) and to low level will disable normal cell and body function.
Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a complex multi-factorial disorder and with increased understanding of how the disease develops, environmental factors like trash-food and lack of exercise, is found to be the major risk factors. Glucose, or sugar, enters the bloodstream after a meal and the body's normal response is to release insulin from the pancreas in response to rising blood glucose levels. Insulin then acts as a key, opening cells to allow glucose in from the bloodstream. Once inside the cells, the glucose can be turned into energy that the body needs to function normally.
Type 2 diabetes develops when muscle, fat and liver cells fail to respond normally to insulin. This failure to respond is called insulin resistance. The pancreas initially compensate for this insulin resistance by increasing insulin output. Over time, these cells "burn out" and become unable to produce enough insulin to maintain normal glucose levels.
