Diabetes knowledge brush-up
What is diabetes? Is there only one type of diabetes? My granddad is fat – does he have diabetes? How do you avoid getting diabetes? Do children have diabetes? What about pets?
Children always ask lots of questions. The questions are usually simple, but sometimes they can move into more complicated areas. What do you know about diabetes?
We suggest that you brush up on your diabetes knowledge before you head for the classroom, gym or playing field.
Understanding Diabetes - meet Lee and Jenny!
‘Understanding Diabetes’ is an easy-to-follow interactive course that teaches basic knowledge of type 1 (Lee's story) and type 2 diabetes (Jenny's story).
‘Hands On Insulin’ is a step-by-step guide to understanding insulin and how your metabolism works.
Type 2 diabetes - in brief
Diabetes means that the blood sugar level (glucose) in the body is too high. It is therefore also called sugar sickness, but this is not a very good name because you are not really sick – your body is just working differently to others. The body uses blood sugar to create energy so that you can run, play football and concentrate. Blood sugar is formed with the help of the food that you eat. It is also produced in the liver and in the muscles. The body needs blood sugar, but preferably not too much – that is unhealthy.
The pancreas is the organ of the body that ensures that the amount of blood sugar is not too high. In people with diabetes, the pancreas is not working properly. Normally it produces a substance called insulin that ensures that the blood sugar moves from the blood to the cells, where it is to be used as energy. If you have diabetes, the pancreas produces insufficient or inferior insulin. This means that the blood sugar accumulates in the blood, which can ultimately damage the body.
Diabetes can be improved by supplying the body with insulin externally, for example by means of an injection with a small needle. However, some people with diabetes can also control diabetes in another way – without any medicine. This involves getting the blood sugar level as close to ‘normal’ as possible, which is helped enormously by healthy food, daily exercise and normal weight.
