All parts of our body are made of cells. These cells need energy so that we can perform various activities like walking, talking, or thinking etc. This energy is derived from sugar.

Diabetes is a disease in which the body is unable to utilize the sugar properly and this results in high blood sugar levels. This may be due to deficiency of a hormone called insulin, which is needed for utilizing the sugar in our body or sometimes the body may stop responding to the insulin in our body. In such case the insulin levels may be raised.

Where does sugar come from?

Sugar comes from the food we eat. After we eat, most of the sugar is changed to a form called glucose. This glucose is taken into the blood stream and the blood sugar goes up.

Sugar cannot go into most of the body’s cells by itself. It needs help to enter the cells and this help is provided by insulin.

Where does Insulin come from?

The pancreas is an organ in the tummy that is present near the liver. The pancreas has special cells called beta cells, which produce insulin. When the blood sugar goes up, the pancreas produces insulin. This insulin goes into the blood stream and helps to bring the blood sugar to a normal level.

What happens when there is not enough insulin (as in diabetes)?

• The blood sugar goes up because the sugar cannot go from the blood stream into the cells, in the absence of insulin.
• The excess sugar begins to spill over into the urine. As sugar spills into the urine, it draws water from the body, so you have to pass urine more often.
• Since water is being lost from the body because of increased urination, you become very thirsty. This is your body’s way of trying to replace all the fluid you are losing from urinating too much.
• There is weight loss because sugar (calories) is being lost in the urine. The body needs energy for working which comes from sugar and fats. In the absence of insulin the sugar in blood cannot enter the cells, to be used for energy. Hence the body cells use fat for energy.