Do you have diabetes?

Diabetes is a condition in which the blood sugar (glucose) level is excessively high for one of two reasons: either the body cannot produce enough insulin, or the body cannot use insulin properly.

In both healthy people and diabetics, blood sugar rises after eating as the food's carbohydrates are digested into glucose and absorbed into the blood.

In healthy people, the rise in blood sugar stimulates the pancreas to release a hormone called insulin. Insulin enables body cells to absorb the glucose and fats in the blood, causing the blood sugar level to fall back down to normal.

In people with diabetes, the pancreas doesn't make enough insulin or the cells don't respond to it properly, so glucose and fats cannot get into the body's cells and build up in the blood. The blood sugar rises to a higher level after eating, doesn't fall as quickly, and remains higher than normal, even many hours after eating.

If left untreated, the high blood glucose and fat levels can damage the eyes, nerves and blood vessels, and increase the risk of heart disease, kidney and circulatory problems. Symptoms of undiagnosed diabetes can include frequent urination, excessive thirst, tiredness, infections and leg cramps.

Early diagnosis and appropriate treatment are an essential part of minimising the risk of the serious health problems associated with diabetes.

Taken from Healthy Food For Life
Info by Dr Susanna Holt (PhD, dietician)