Diabetes is a disease in which the body produces too little
or ineffective insulin. Insulin is a hormone that is ___1___
in the pancreas. It helps the glucose in your blood to enter the
cells of your body so that it can be ___2___
growth and energy. However, for people with diabetes, glucose
cannot get into ___3___
cells as the pancreas does not make enough insulin. In some
cases, cells are not able to use the insulin that is ___4___
to convert glucose into energy. Thus, glucose that is not used
up collects in the blood.
There are two types of diabetes -- type 1 and type 2. Type 1
diabetes (also known as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus)
usually ___5___ younger
people compared to type 2 diabetes. Genetics plays a part in the
transmission of this disorder. It ___6___
when the body's immune system destroys insulin-producing cells
in the pancreas. Type 1 diabetes sufferers need daily insulin
injections to cope with the disease. It usually accounts for 5%
to 10% of all diagnosed cases of diabetes.
Type 2 diabetes (also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes
mellitus) accounts for 90% to 95% of all diabetes cases. ___7___
usually strikes older people, the obese and those with a family
history of diabetes. |