Defeat Diabetes Month
Defeat Diabetes Photo credit: Nataliya Vaitkevich/ Pexels.com April is Defeat Diabetes Month, an annual observance led by the Defeat Diabetes Foundation to raise awareness about the prevention and management of type 2 diabetes [1]. With diabetes now affecting millions of people worldwide, this month is an opportunity to understand how the disease develops, recognize the risk factors, and take practical steps to reduce your chances of developing it or to better manage it if you already have it. What is Diabetes? Diabetes is a chronic condition that occurs when the body cannot properly regulate blood glucose (sugar) levels. Glucose is the body’s primary source of energy, and its regulation depends on insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas. Insulin helps move glucose from the bloodstream into cells, where it is used for energy [2]. There are several types of diabetes. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system attacks the insulin-producing cells...