GI and Diabetes

What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a metabolic diseases in which the body fails to process food for use of energy, resulting in a high blood glucose level. When we intake carbohydrates, the digestive system in our body will break it down and transform it into glucose, which is the energy source of our body cells. After the conversion, the pancreas will secrete a hormone called insulin to help glucose get into our body cells to produce energy.

 

In general, there are two types of diabetes: Type I and II.

 

Type I Diabetes

Type I diabetes is caused by a sudden genes mutation and environmental factors, leading to the malfunction of the immune system which prohibits the production of insulin in our body. Patients with type I diabetes have an abnormal self-defense phenomenon where they body system attacks and destroys the insulin. Symptoms can be developed quickly within weeks for type I diabetes patients, such as increased thirst and urination, fatigue, unexplained weight loss and sores that are difficult to heal.

 

Type II Diabetes

For Type II diabetes, it usually begins with insulin resistance which the pancreas no longer produce enough insulin for our body, giving rise in blood glucose level. It can caused by factors like unhealthy lifestyle, insulin resistance and genes. Due to the lack of adequate amount of insulin, glucose cannot enter the body cells, leading to a rise in the blood glucose level. The excess glucose in blood will then be excreted through urine. Type II diabetes patients usually develop certain symptoms in a much slower pace than Type I which could be difficult to be noticed in years. Some people might not even notice the diseases until they have related health problems like blurred vision and heart diseases.

 

Factors of Type 2 Diabetes

Factors like unhealthy lifestyle, insulin resistance, genes and hormonal and pancreas-related diseases may increase the chances of getting Type II diabetes.
 

1.Unhealthy lifestyle

People who are overweight, obese and physical inactive are more likely to develop type II diabetes. Extra weight and belly fat could put you at risk for type II diabetes, it may possibly cause insulin resistance and it is commonly found in patients with type II diabetes.
 

2. Insulin resistance

Most of the patients with type II diabetes usually begin with insulin resistance, a condition where our muscles and body cells fail to utilise the insulin well. Since our body need the help of insulin to get glucose into our cells to produce energy, more and more insulin are then made by the pancreas. Over time, the pancreas fails to make enough insulin, thus giving rise of the blood glucose level.

​

3. Genes

Research also found that there are certain genes may enhance the chances of developing type II diabetes. Our genes control every single process of our body functions and it is highly associated with our metabolism condition. While some genes control our body health, some may increase the risk of failure in metabolism regulation such as failure in regulating blood glucose level.

​

4. Hormonal and pancreas related diseases

The most common type of hormonal diseases that are related to diabetes is gestational diabetes. It occurs when high blood glucose levels are found during pregnancy and is usually developed between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy and disappeared after birth. Due to the hormonal changes during pregnancy, hormones produced by the placenta resist insulin in the late pregnancy. Therefore, twice or triple amount of insulin are produced. Over time, insulin resistance may develop and cause type II diabetes. Other than that,  pancreas related disease may also lead to a failure in the production of insulin. It then increases the risk of developing type II diabetes.

 

Relationship between Going Low-GI and Diabetes

Though absolute cure for diabetes are still absent, there are possible ways to help prevent and alleviate the symptoms of it. One of the possible way is going for a low-GI diet which manages the blood glucose level for people with diabetes. With the intake of more complex form of carbohydrates such as starches, it gives more time for our body to break it down into simpler form such as glucose, sucrose, lactose and fructose.

​

References:

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/causes-of-type2-diabetes.html

http://www.diabetes-hk.org/ch/page/認識糖尿病%20-%20類型

https://www.diabetes.co.uk/gestational-diabetes.html

https://www.gisymbol.com/gi-diabetes/

https://www.niddk.nih.gov/health-information/diabetes/overview/symptoms-causes#type2

​