Diabetes which was once thought to be a disease of adults is now, unfortunately, occurring at an increased incidence among children as well. Diet and lifestyle modifications contribute to this. Increased incidence of the disease call for increased awareness!
What is diabetes?
Before jumping onto the signs and symptoms of diabetes, as the title mentions, it is very important to know what diabetes actually is. Diabetes is basically an abnormal metabolic state of an individual. It is marked by a high level of glucose in the blood.
The normal range of glucose in our blood is 70-100 mg per dl of blood. Our body maintains this blood glucose level and utilizes the rest for the production of energy or is stored in the liver in the form of glycogen. In diabetes, the level of glucose in blood exceeds its upper limit.
What causes higher blood glucose levels?
There are certain cells in our body that release a hormone called INSULIN. This hormone regulates glucose levels in the blood. After we take a meal, the level of this hormone increases and it regulates the uptake of glucose by the tissues including skeletal muscles and adipose tissue.
The excess glucose is converted into glycogen which is its storage form and is stored in the liver until the next time our body needs glucose. All of these events occur and maintain the blood glucose levels within the normal range.
Any disturbance or abnormality in the function of insulin results in abnormally high blood glucose levels, a condition called diabetes.