Young people: what is diabetes?
Diabetes occurs when the pancreas can not make insulin, or when there is not enough insulin, and/or the insulin produced does not work effectively.
Read more about diabetes.
Your body makes glucose for its energy source | |
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Source = carbohydrates | Found in: potatoes, corn, bread, pasta, rice, fruit and milk |
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Glucose is carried around your body through the bloodstream | |
Glucose goes into the body’s tissues to fuel the different cells. | Glucose is stored in your liver. |
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Insulin is used to transfer glucose from the blood to the body cells | |
Insulin = hormone made by the pancreas | Process is called glucose metabolism |
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Diabetes = when pancreas can’t make any or makes insufficient insulin | |
No insulin = no glucose transferred to body cells | Glucose builds up in blood leading to high blood glucose levels and health problems |
Just been diagnosed with diabetes?
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