What is Diabetes
Much like cars, our body needs fuel to function properly. Depending on your activity level, you might need more fuel or less, but without fuel, we can not live. However, unlike automobiles are bodies do not run off of unleaded gasoline, instead we eat food as a source of fuel, which is broken down into different chemicals. One of the most common chemicals used by the body for energy is glucose or sugar.
Our body produces many chemicals to help aid in the process of breaking down food, including a hormone called insulin. Insulin is produced in the pancreas and helps to turn the glucose into energy. In those with diabetes, the insulin with either not properly break down the glucose or not produce enough insulin.
According to the American Diabetes Association, almost 24 million American’s have diabetes. This is about 8% of the total population in the United States and many of these individuals are unaware that they have it.