What Is Diabetes? 

Most people don’t understand all the aspects of diabetes.

It is important to have a basic understanding of what is happening in your body when you have diabetes.

Let’s first look at what happens in a healthy body. 

When you eat, some of your food is broken down into sugar (also called glucose).  Sugar travels in your bloodstream to all your body’s cells.  Insulin helps sugar move from your blood into your cells.  Insulin is a hormone made by the pancreas.

When you have diabetes:

• Your pancreas makes little or no insulin, or
• Your body prevents the insulin you do make from working right

As a result, sugar can’t get into your cells.  So it stays in your blood.  That’s why your blood sugar gets too high.  Elevated blood sugars over time damage blood vessels and nerves and can lead to complications.

While there are many things about diabetes you cannot control, these are action steps that you can choose that will help bring your blood sugars into target.

You do not have to change everything all at once.  Some people focus on just one at a time and add the next one in a week or so.

And of course, the more changes you make the more results you will see.  Start making small changes and focus on being consistent and then add another step.  This method will be less overwhelming but you will still be improving your lifestyle.

For tips on healthy eating with diabetes, download my free guide, “How to Eat when you have Diabetes & Still Enjoy your Favorite Foods!”