What is Diabetes?
- Diabetes is a chronic disorder where the blood glucose is persistently above normal.
- Normal blood glucose levels are usually below 7 mmol/l. Although they can go higher than this after a meal, in a person without diabetes they go back to normal levels quickly.
- This occurs because of a lack of insulin or the body's resistance to insulin.
- Insulin is a hormone produced in the beta cells of the pancreas and it's role is to allow the body to use glucose in the blood as fuel. If the insulin is lacking or doesn't work properly the blood glucose levels rise.
- There is no such thing as mild diabetes. However the treatment can differ from person to person.