What is insulin?

Insulin is a hormone secreted by special cells called beta cells which are located in the pancreas. Insulin is the main regulator of glucose levels in the blood. When the body’s cells need energy, they consume glucose and insulin is the hormone that helps glucose enter these cells. On the other hand, if the body has sufficient energy, insulin sends signals to the liver to absorb glucose from the blood.

In type 1 diabetes, the beta cells in the pancreas get attacked by immune bodies and are destroyed. Thus, the capacity of the pancreas to produce certain levels of insulin is diminished. In type 2, the cells are resistant to insulin, thus no glucose is able to enter the cells

What are the different types of Diabetes?

The most common ones are type 1, type 2, gestational diabetes. Type 1 is when the body doesn’t make insulin. The immune system attacks and destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. It is usually diagnosed in children and young adults, although it can appear at any age. People with type 1 diabetes need to take insulin everyday to stay alive. Type 2 is when the body doesn’t make or use insulin well. It can be developed at any age, even childhood. However this type of diabetes occurs most often in middle-aged and older people and it’s most common type of diabetes.

Gestational diabetes develops in some women when they’re pregnant. Most of the time, this type of diabetes goes away after the baby is born. However, if you’ve had gestational diabetes, there’s a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes later in life. Sometimes diabetes diagnosed during pregnancy is actually type 2 diabetes. What health problems can people with diabetes develop? Over time, high blood glucose or diabetes leads to problems such as: Heart Disease, Stroke, Kidney Disease, Eye problems, Dental Disease, Nerve damage, Foot problems among others.