Blood Sugar 101: How Diabetes Affects Your Body

To truly understand diabetes, it’s essential to grasp how this condition impacts your body. Diabetes is not merely about blood sugar levels (Blood Sugar 101); it involves a complex interplay of factors that affect your overall health.

The Role of Insulin

At the heart of diabetes is insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin’s primary job is to regulate blood sugar (glucose) levels by allowing cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream. In diabetes, this process goes awry.

Type 1 Diabetes: In this type, the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body produces little to no insulin. Without insulin, glucose accumulates in the bloodstream, causing high blood sugar levels.

Type 2 Diabetes: In Type 2 diabetes, the body’s cells become resistant to insulin’s effects, or the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin to meet the body’s demands. This leads to elevated blood sugar levels.

The Impact of High Blood Sugar

High blood sugar, or hyperglycemia, is a hallmark of diabetes. It can affect various organs and systems in the body:

1. Cardiovascular System: High blood sugar damages blood vessels and increases the risk of heart disease, stroke, and hypertension.
2. Nervous System: Diabetes can cause neuropathy, and nerve damage that leads to pain, tingling, and numbness in the extremities.
3. Eyes: Elevated blood sugar levels can damage the blood vessels in the eyes, potentially leading to diabetic retinopathy and vision problems.
4. Kidneys: Diabetes is a leading cause of kidney disease, which can progress to kidney failure if not managed.
5. Feet: Poor blood circulation and nerve damage can result in foot ulcers and infections.
6. Skin: Diabetes may lead to skin conditions, including fungal infections and slow wound healing.
7. Immune System: High blood sugar weakens the immune system, making individuals with diabetes more susceptible to infections.

Preventing Complications

Understanding how diabetes affects your body underscores the importance of managing blood sugar levels. Regular monitoring, medication (if prescribed), a balanced diet, exercise, and a healthy lifestyle can help prevent complications.