Glucose and Diabetes

Diabetics know all about glucose and diabetes. But what about individuals who aren't diabetic but may be at risk of developing the disease? It is important that they also understand how glucose and diabetes are related.

In order to fully understand glucose and diabetes, you have to understand what has to happen for diabetes to occur. Beta cells located in the pancreas produce a hormone called insulin. The body then uses insulin to control glucose. Glucose is a sugar that the body uses as its source of fuel. The insulin carries the glucose to the cells where it is utlized for energy.

But when a person has diabetes there is something wrong with their insulin production. It is either too low or non-existent. Without insulin to manage glucose levels, the glucose begins to build up in the bloodstream.

As glucose continues to build up over time, the individual develops diabetes, and this is the relation of glucose and diabetes. This is why many diabetics need insulin injections daily. It is being introduced into the body externally since the body is not keeping up.

An easier way to look at the scenario is to compare it to a bus. Insulin is a bus that has to pick up glucose, or workers, to take them to work. If the workers (glucose) aren't picked up, then work can't be completed.

Similarly, if glucose can't be picked up and transported to the cells by the insulin (bus), the glucose can't accomplish work (or be used for energy). So, in essence, diabetes causes the bus to break down in the glucose and diabetes relationship.