Diabetes and Healthy Lifestyle

Diabetes is where your blood sugar is too high, either because your body can’t use it up or the pancreas is unable to produce any or enough insulin. Blood sugar is known as glucose and it’s produced when you digest carbohydrates. Glucose is also produced by the liver. Insulin is a hormone that is produced in the pancreas. Insulin acts as a key to unlock the cells to allow glucose to enter. Glucose in the cells acts as fuel, which enables us to work, rest, and play. Without the insulin key glucose remains in the blood stream.

There are different types of diabetes, but we will concentrate on Type 1 and Type 2. Between 5% and 15% of all diabetics have been diagnosed with Type 1. In Type 1 diabetes the cells in the pancreas that produces insulin have been damaged beyond repair. This damage may be due to an infection or virus. Type 2 diabetes is when the pancreas can produce some insulin but not enough for our daily needs, and the insulin producing cells may be just worn out. The difference between the two types is now much the insulin key is damaged. In Type 1 the key is absent, in Type 2 the key will only partially unlock the cells.

We’ve already said Type 1 diabetes can be the result of an infection or virus, but Type 2 is likely to be through lifestyle choices. However, these lifestyle choices can be changed from negative to positive choices. Research suggest that increasing your physical activity, eating a healthy diet, and maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes and elevate the problems associated with the condition. FitFarms offers a Health and Wellbeing Assessment to support you through to a healthier lifestyle. The key is to understanding the condition and make the changes to your lifestyle, this can be achieved with FitFarms.

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Health and Fitness Advice by FitFarms Editorial Team

Image Credit: Healthmeup.com