Living with Diabetes

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Almost everyone knows someone who has diabetes. Studies show that diabetes affects 23.6 million people-7.8 percent of the U.S. population. Being diagnosed with diabetes may cause changes in some people’s lives. You can never just look at a diabetic and understand the things that they go through on a daily basis. A question you may ask yourself is, “What is the life of a diabetic like?” Diabetes is a disorder that affects the way your body uses food for growth and energy. Carbohydrates play apart in diabetes. It is a biological compound containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen that is an important source of food and energy. When you eat, carbohydrates are broken down into a simple sugar called glucose. This is one of the main sources of fuel for your body. Those who have diabetes either do not have enough insulin or their cells have become insensitive to the effects of insulin. Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas that regulates the level of glucose in the blood. However, glucose does not get into the cells and it begins to build up in the blood. The buildup of glucose in the blood is the hallmark of diabetes. There are three main type of diabetes. They are Type 1, Type 2, and Gestational Diabetes. Type 1 diabetes usually appears during childhood, but it can also occur in adults. This type of diabetes is also known as an autoimmune disease. An autoimmune disease occurs when the body’s system that fights infection, the immune system, turns against a part of the body. Type 2 diabetes has generic roots, but it is often triggered in women by too much testosterone, a male sex hormone, or a sedentary lifestyle. It is the most common form of diabet... ... middle of paper ... ... New York: Little, Brown and Company, 2007. Clark, Marie. Understanding Diabetes England: John Wiley & Sons Inc, 2004. Ali, Naheed. Diabetes and You New York: Rowman & LittleField Publishers, 2011. Michaud, Ellen. Total Health for Woman Pennsylvania: Rodale Press, Inc, 2005. Gottlieb, Bill. New Choices in Natural Healing Pennsylvania: Rodale Press, Inc, 2005. Thompson, Rob. The Low- Starch Diabetes Solution New York: McGraw- Hill Companies, 2009 Weber, Louis. 101+ Delicious Diabetic Recipes Illinois: Publications International, LTD, 1995. “Why so many of us are getting Diabetes?” Time. 08 December 2003 : 1-8 Biermann, June. The Diabetic’s Book New York: American Association Inc, 2002.

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