Is Diabetes A Serious Medical Condition - 1269 Words

Diabetes is a serious medical condition in which the body is unable to properly process food for use as energy. Most of what we eat is processed into glucose, a sugar the body requires to maintain normal and healthy function. Once glucose is produced and stored in the liver, it is released into the bloodstream and transported throughout the body for use by organs, muscle, and tissue. Insulin, a hormone created by the pancreas, is responsible to help glucose enter the body’s cells where it will be utilized as the primary source of fuel. When a person’s pancreas can’t make enough insulin to meet their need or their body is unable to use its own insulin effectively, they are said to be diabetic. Without appropriate access to†¦show more content†¦The reasons for this disparity are most likely manifold and may be attributable to: ï‚ · Social and environmental barriers to health care access. ï‚ · Lack of health promotion programs that target the DD population. ï‚ · Limited opportunities for meaningful physical activity. ï‚ · Limited understanding and participation in healthy lifestyle practices. ï‚ · Increased exposure to medications that raise blood sugar levels. Clearly the population we serve is at high risk for developing diabetes and diabetic related complications. Understanding this fact helps to underscore the importance of our need for diabetic awareness and the need to provide supports that help our participants to prevent and/or control the diabetic disease process. Types of Diabetes There are three main types of diabetes: ï‚ · Type 1 – With type 1 diabetes the body does not produce insulin to convert food into the energy needed for healthy day to day living. This type of diabetes is usually diagnosed early in life when a person is a child or young adult. As there is no cure for type 1 diabetes, people inflicted with it will need lifelong insulin therapy coupled with a healthy lifestyle to live a long and happy life. ï‚ · Type 2 – With type 2 diabetes the pancreas does not produce enough insulin to meet the body’s needs or the body does not have the ability to properly utilize it. Type 2 diabetes is normally acquired