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.

Here’s what happens when glucose (sugar) from the food we eat is converted into energy:
Your body makes glucose for its energy source
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

In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas stops making insulin. Overview of the pancreas (person without diabetes and person with type 1 diabetes).

In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas makes some insulin but it’s not working as well as it used to. Overview of the pancreas (person without diabetes and person with type 2 diabetes).

Just been diagnosed with diabetes?

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