
SPOTLIGHT ON DIABETES
The Center for Disease Control and Prevention has reported that as at July 2017 a staggering 100 million people in America have diabetes with a great number predisposed to it and this number is steadily rising. With brownies and doughnuts a cultural staple and the lack of consistent physical activity, this should come as no surprise. As clearly stated on the CDC site, “people with diabetes are at increased risk of serious health complications including premature death, vision loss, heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and amputation of toes, feet, or legs,” which should be a deterrent for over consumption of sugar, but engrained cultural habits are indeed hard to break. What is more stunning is the number of people under 18 that have been diagnosed with the disease. The marked distinction between Diabetes 1 and 2 is: Type 1 is a chronic condition in which the pancreas produces little or no insulin while Type 2 is a chronic condition that affects the way the body processes blood sugar (glucose). TYPE 2 Located in the abdomen, the pancreas essentially converts food into fuel or insulin for the body’s cells. This is also the area of the body that helps to store and use glucose. Insulin is then sent, as glucose (sugar) through the bloodstream into muscle, fat, liver, and most other cells so that the body can use it for fuel. An excess of insulin in the bloodstream can cause cells in the body to absorb too much glucose (sugar) which