Diabetes is a disorder in the metabolism- it is the way our bodies use the food we eat for energy and growth. Most of the food that we eat is broken down into glucose. Glucose is the form of sugar in the blood and the body’s main source of energy.
After we are done digesting, the body allows the glucose to pass through our bloodstream, where the growing cells use this source for energy. In order for the glucose to get into the growing cells there has to be insulin present. Insulin is a hormone or chemical produced by the pancreas, a gland behind the stomach. The pancreas automatically creates enough levels of insulin to allow for the movement of the glucose from the blood into the cells. In people with diabetes, the pancreas, however, produces little or not enough insulin for the glucose to move from the blood to the cell. The insulin produced by the pancreas acts like a door way into the cells for the glucose to enter. In some cases the cells do not respond correctly to the insulin that is being produced by the body. The body then tries to dilute the excess glucose stored in the blood by excreting water from the cells into the blood and excreting it into the urine, this condition is called hyperglycemia. It is common for people with undiagnosed diabetes to be constantly thirsty, hungry, and urinate frequently, because their bodies are trying to get rid of the excess glucose. Since the body is burning so much energy, it is asking for more food. So the body tries to convert fats and proteins into glucose, this breakdown causes acid compounds called ketones, to form in the blood. Ketones are also excreted in the urine. Some ketones build up in the blood, this condition is called ketoacidiosis . If Ketoacidiosis is left untreated it can lead to coma and death.