What Is Diabetes?

Diabetes means that your blood glucose (GLOO-kos), also called blood sugar, is too high. Glucose comes from foods we eat, and is needed as fuel for our bodies even when we are at rest. Your blood always has a little bit of glucose. Extra glucose is normally stored in our liver and muscles until we need it for activity. To be used for energy the glucose has to be moved from the liver, muscle and blood into the cells. The problem happens when the glucose stays in your blood and does not reach the cell. This causes your blood glucose to reach an unhealthy level.

An organ in our body, the pancreas (PAN-kree-as), makes insulin (IN-suh-lin). Insulin is what helps glucose move from the blood into the cells. When you have diabetes, it is because the pancreas does not produce enough insulin. Another type of diabetes is caused when the pancreas makes insulin, but the cells are not using the glucose very well. In both cases, the blood glucose level rises too high. It is unhealthy for the blood glucose to be too high. This elevation in blood glucose level causes damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, nerves and kidneys.

Health Tip #:002

Boost The Fiber In Your Diet

Dietary fiber has been shown to be beneficial to good health. An indigestible carbohydrate found in plant foods dietary fiber comes in two forms. One, insoluble fiber, may help prevent colon cancer. Good sources are whole grains, high-fiber cereals, fruits and vegetables. The other, soluble fiber helps lower blood cholesterol and especially important for diabetics, may help control blood glucose by slowing the digestion of dietary glucose. Soluble fiber is found in oats, legumes, fruits, and vegetables.

Just a few changes can be incorporated for any lifestyle with ease. To boost fiber:
1. Include plenty of beans and lentils in meals. These members of the legume family-which also includes peas, soybeans, and peanuts-are loaded with protein and minerals.
2. If the peel on the fruit and vegetable is edible, leave it on for more fiber.
3. Opt for whole grain breads and crackers. To tell whether a product is high fiber, check the label. Make sure the first ingredient is whole wheat or another type of whole grain flour.

Better Living Now is a proud supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation:

© 2007 by Vanderbilt University

Reference: American Diabetes Association:

There are 23.6 million children and adults in the US with diabetes -- 5.7 million people are undiagnosed and 57 million have a condition called pre-diabetes.
Take this test to see if you are at risk for having or developing type 2 diabetes.

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What Is Diabetes?

Health Tip #:002

Boost The Fiber In Your Diet

Better Living Now is a proud supporter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation:

© 2007 by Vanderbilt University

Reference: American Diabetes Association:

Reference: American Diabetes Association:

There are 23.6 million children and adults in the US with diabetes -- 5.7 million people are undiagnosed and 57 million have a condition called pre-diabetes. Take this test to see if you are at risk for having or developing type 2 diabetes.

There are 23.6 million children and adults in the US with diabetes -- 5.7 million people are undiagnosed and 57 million have a condition called pre-diabetes.
Take this test to see if you are at risk for having or developing type 2 diabetes.