Diabetes is the common term for several metabolic disorders in which the body no longer produces insulin or uses the insulin it produces ineffectively, resulting in an increased blood sugar level. The most common forms of diabetes are type 1 diabetes and type 2 diabetes. In both types of diabetes, people have little or no ability to move sugar out of the blood stream and into the cells, where it is used to make energy.
Type 1 diabetes develops when antibodies are created in an autoimmune reaction against the body’s insulin producing cells. As a result, the pancreas stops producing insulin or cannot produce enough insulin on its own. Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition that is treated with injections of insulin.
Often, people with type 2 diabetes can still make their own insulin in the pancreas, but the insulin that is produced is not used as effectively by the body. Many people manage type 2 diabetes simply by following a healthy diet and regular exercise. In overweight individuals, type 2 diabetes often improves as a result of weight loss, a healthy diet and exercise. With the progression of the disease, some people may have to take oral medication(s) or insulin injections.
According to the World Health Organization, over 175 million people throughout the world have diabetes. Of these, 90% have type 2 diabetes, and 10% have type 1 diabetes. The total population is expected to grow about 3% to 5% annually in the coming years, especially driven by emerging market countries.
