Diabetes
Written by Julian Chan, MS RDN Sep 14, 2022
What is Diabetes?
It is a group of diseases defined by elevated levels of fasting blood sugar, or blood glucose. When eating, food goes through a process called digestion, where food gets broken down into smaller and more simple forms to be carried by the blood to provide energy for other cells in the body. Glucose is one of these simple components, and after a meal glucose rises in the blood. When this is detected by the body a hormone called insulin is released by the pancreas to tell the cells in the body to take up glucose to either store it for later use or use it for energy. If someone has diabetes, their body is unable to make enough insulin or can’t use it properly. Without proper insulin action, glucose remains in the blood which can lead to other health complications over time if left unchecked.
Types of Diabetes
There are three main types of diabetes, differentiated by their action on insulin.
Type 1: pancreas makes very little or no insulin
Type 2: cells have insulin resistance, and pancreas is unable to keep up with increased need
Gestational: pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin during pregnancy
Risk Factors
There are also certain factors that can increase your risk of getting diabetes as well like:
Being overweight
Being over 45 years old
Family history
Physical inactivity
Women who have had gestational diabetes
Where is Glucose Found?
Among the five food groups, three of them (grains, fruits, and vegetables) contain glucose. Specifically, they contain a nutrient called carbohydrate which the body breaks down into glucose. In terms of management, one common practice is carbohydrate/carb counting because the combination with a matching dose of insulin can make it easier to manage blood sugar. To do this we have to understand how carbs are measured. On the food label carbs are measured in grams(g), with 1 serving of carbs is about 15g. And how you spread your carb intake throughout the day depends on the type of insulin you take.
Living with Diabetes
While there is no cure for diabetes, you can still live a long and full life. Working with a health professional, specifically a Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES), and educating yourself on how to self-manage the disease can help prevent or delay health problems.
References
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/what-is-diabetes https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/managing-diabetes
Mahan, L. Kathleen., et al. Krause's Food and the Nutrition Care Process. 13th ed. Philadelphia, Pa. ; Edinburgh, Elsevier Saunders, 2012. 679 – 681 pp.