WHAT IS DIABETES?

Energy is required by the body to carry out its normal functions. The food we eat gets converted into simple sugar (Glucose). Glucose in the blood is essential for providing this energy. If the glucose level in the blood increases due to its non utilization by the body, the situation is called Diabetes Mellitus. This happens if there is deficiency of Insulin or it is ineffective i.e. insulin insensitivity Insulin is a hormone secreted by the gland called Pancreas, situated in abdomen. Insulin helps in allowing the glucose to enter cells where glucose is converted into usable energy. Hence if the insulin is abnormal or is ineffective because of excess deposition of fat on the body cells, making the insulin insensitive, glucose does not enter the cell. Thus blood accumulates excess of glucose. This is very harmful for the cells of the various body organs specially eyes, kidneys and foot.
As we have seen, Diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which body is unable to handle glucose for its energy requirements. Since insulin is essential for entry of glucose in to the cell, it can not take up glucose and then body tries to produce more glucose for its requirement and the result is, glucose keeps on rising even if there is no food intake.