About type-1 Diabetes
What happens to the food that we eat?
We need energy to do our day-to-day activities. This energy comes from the food that we take in. This food must be broken down into tiny pieces and converted into simpler and smaller substances before our body can use it, for energy generation.
There are 3 major macro nutrients in the food that we consume.
Carbohydrates(carbs) - These are present in Rice, Roti, breads, buns, biscuits, Idli, Dosa, Upma, Poha etc; They give instant energy as they are quickly digested in the stomach and intestines to give simpler carbs like glucose, which the body uses for energy.
Protein – Proteins are found in eggs, Chicken, Fish, Prawns, beans, Rajma, Chana, Paneer, Soya etc; These are like building blocks for the body to build and repair tissues. The proteins at the end of digestion, are converted into small Amino acids.
Fats – They are present in oils like Sunflower, Rice bran, Sesame, Coconut used for cooking; Fats in non veg, etc. Once these are digested, they are either stored in the fat tissue or used for energy.
Apart from the food that we take in, we get energy from inside the body as well. The liver, fat, kidneys all help in generating glucose from their stores of glycogen (a starch/carbohydrate stored in the liver) protein, fat. So that even if we are starving and not eating anything, the body gets energy from these stores.
Now, after the digestion is complete, the glucose (from carbohydrates),amino acids (from proteins),and fatty acids (from fats) enter the bloodstream and are transported all over the body by the blood stream and later, with the help of insulin into the cells.
What is the role of insulin then?
·Insulin comes from pancreas helps our cells to take in glucose and convert that glucose into energy. In other words, the cells get energy from glucose and insulin opens the cell’s door to let glucose in. So, without insulin, cells do not get the energy that is needed.
Where does this insulin come from?
Insulin is released by a gland in the body called pancreas. The pancreas has cells called beta cells. These BETA cells keep track of the blood glucose levels and amp up or reduce the insulin release depending on the blood glucose levels. The released insulin travels via the blood to the cells of the body and makes them open the door to let glucose in. Tissues, such as muscle and fat, need insulin to take in glucose.
Glucose then enters the cells and is converted to energy or stored for later use.ie. say you had a heavy breakfast your body will convert some of it into energy for immediate use and some of it is stored for future use. Now, as glucose is let into the cells, the blood glucose levels start coming down. Apart from this insulin also tells the liver to reduce releasing more glucose into the blood from its stores.
In type 1 diabetes, beta cells(the cells which make insulin) of the pancreas are slowly damaged due to over active immunity called auto immunity i.e. body’s immunity acts against its own tissues. As beta cells are damaged, they do not produce insulin and without insulin the tissues cannot take up glucose. Glucose accumulates in the blood but it does not enter the cells as there is no insulin . Because cells do not have glucose you feel tired, hungry and thirsty. The excess glucose in the blood leads to high blood glucose levels. Kidneys try to send more glucose in urine, so frequent urination is seen.
Once insulin is given, insulin helps the cells to take up glucose again. Hence it is important to take insulin.
