What Is Diabetes
What Is Diabetes
What Is Diabetes
Diabetes is a disease that occurs when your blood glucose, also called blood sugar, is too high.
Blood glucose is your main source of energy and comes from the food you eat. Insulin, a
hormone made by the pancreas, helps glucose from food get into your cells to be used for
energy. Sometimes your body doesn’t make enough—or any—insulin or doesn’t use insulin
well. Glucose then stays in your blood and doesn’t reach your cells.
Over time, having too much glucose in your blood can cause health problems. Although diabetes
has no cure, you can take steps to manage your diabetes and stay healthy.
Sometimes people call diabetes “a touch of sugar” or “borderline diabetes.” These terms suggest
that someone doesn’t really have diabetes or has a less serious case, but every case of diabetes is
serious.
Here are some things you can change to lower your risk:
Exercise regularly
Participate in chores that make you fit digging in the farm,
Walking instead of overreliance on vehicles
Get at least 30 minutes of physical activity 5 days a week.
If you have not been active, talk with your health care professional about which activities are
best.
Eat smaller portions to reduce the amount of calories you eat each day and help you lose weight.
Choosing foods with less fat is another way to reduce calories.
Drink water instead of sweetened beverages.