Understanding the Role of Glucose and Insulin in Diabetes

When you eat, your body breaks the food down into sugar and sends it into the blood, called blood sugar or blood glucose. However, it can’t stay in the bloodstream without causing problems. Instead, it needs insulin (produced by the pancreas) to help move the blood glucose into your cells so that it can be used effectively for energy in your muscles, liver and fat. Of course, this is how we want our bodies to ideally function – but that doesn’t always happen.

The Importance of Glucose Control

Both insulin and glucose are naturally occurring hormones within the body that maintain your body’s blood sugar level. Insulin is like a key that opens up the locks on your body’s cells so that glucose can get inside and be used for energy. If glucose cannot get into your cells, it will build up in your blood stream. Left untreated, high blood glucose can cause life-long complications, including diabetes and hypoglycemia.

It is important that the level of glucose in your blood stay controlled so that it does not rise too high or fall too low. Your pancreas is what makes the enzymes needed for the digestive system and the hormones needed to control blood glucose levels. However, when the pancreas is over-worked from an unhealthy diet or it is not functioning properly, blood glucose levels get out of control. It is at this point that patients can experience the symptoms of diabetes.

Diabetes Symptoms and Treatment

If you are experiencing the following symptoms of a blood sugar problem, please make an appointment with Dr. Daniel Benhuri.

• Extreme hunger or thirst
• Frequent urination
• Unexplained weight loss
• Fatigue
• Blurry vision
• Slow-healing wounds
• Dry skin
• Tingling or numbness in the hands or feet

Diabetes is not a condition that should be left untreated. Call the office of Dr. Daniel Benhuri today.