Diabetes Mellitus is a disorder of metabolism the way our bodies use digested food for growth and energy.

Most of the food we eat is broken down into glucose, in the form of sugar in the blood. Glucose is the main source of fuel for the body. After digestion, glucose passes into the bloodstream, where it is used by cells for growth and energy. For glucose to get into cells, insulin must be present. Insulin is a hormone produced by the pancreas, a large gland behind the stomach. When we eat, the pancreas automatically produces the right amount of insulin to move glucose from blood into our cells.

In people with diabetes, however, the pancreas either produces too little or no insulin, or the cells do not respond appropriately to the insulin that is produced. Therefore, glucose builds up in the blood (hyperglycaemia); the excess overflows into the urine and passes out of the body.

Thus, the body loses its main source of fuel even though the blood contains large amounts of glucose.

Diabetes Mellitus Type 2  (DMT2)

• Non Insulin Dependent Diabetes. 
• Most of the diabetics: 85 to 90 %. 
• Gradual onset: “disease of civilization”. 
• Starts: 30 years, but DT2 can also begin at a younger age. 
• Reasons: “LIFESTYLE”.
• Nutritional: too many refined sugars and white flour products (over-stimulation of pancreas) and poor quality food (lacking in Zn, Chromium, B vitamins, Magnesium), bad fats (too little of good omega 3 essential fatty acids) -> decrease of pancreas function and/or less response of cells towards insulin (insulin resistance). 
• Related to being overweight (cells “refuse” to absorb glucose and are insulin resistant). 
• Sedentary way of life: exercise!

Diabetes type 1

Complications

Diabetes worldwide

Diet advice

Metabolic Syndrome

Symptoms