What is it?
Diabetes Mellitus is a common condition in which the amount of Glucose (Sugar) in the blood is too high because the body is unable to use it properly. This is because the body's method of converting Glucose into energy is not working as it should. Normally a Hormone, called Insulin, carefully controls the amount of Glucose in our blood. Insulin is made by a gland called the Pancreas. This plays an important part in helping the body to work properly as it helps the Glucose enter the cells where it is used as fuel by the body. Glucose comes from the food we eat, either from sweet foods or from the digestion of starchy foods such as bread and potatoes. After a meal the blood Glucose level rises and Insulin is released into the blood. When blood Glucose, level falls (when you are doing exercise for instance) the level of Insulin falls. Therefore Insulin plays a vital role in regulating the level of of blood Glucose and in particular, in stopping the blood Glucose from rising too high.
If as in my case you have Diabetes, the Glucose in my body is not turned into energy, either because there is not enough Insulin, or because the Insulin my body produces is not working properly. This causes my Liver to release Glucose, but still cannot turn the Glucose into energy. Ultimately my body would then break down its stores of fat and protein to try and release more Glucose, but still the Glucose cannot be turned into energy. This would explain why, when I was unaware that I had Diabetes I often felt tired and ultimately lost Two and Half Stone over a period of a few weeks. Finally, all in all people with Type 1 Diabetes need to keep taking Insulin Injections, these are vital to keeping you alive and must be taken every day for the rest of yours or my life.
Copyright Paul Bradley West Lothian College February 2004
