The pancreas is an organ located behind the stomach that is directly related to diabetes. There are two main types of diabetes, Type I and Type II. In Type I diabetes, the pancreas does not produce insulin as it should, causing the body to be unable to process sugar properly. Glucose levels in the blood then spike, and spill over into the urine, causing extreme thirst, dizziness, shakiness, fatigue, and more. Type I diabetes used to be called juvenile onset diabetes, because it is usually detected early on in life, when the diabetic is a child. People with Type I diabetes require medication to control it and remain healthy, usually in the form of insulin injections or shots.
Type II diabetes is different. This type of diabetes is often called adult onset diabetes, and it differs quite a bit from Type I diabetes, even though the symptoms and results or effects are often the same. In Type II diabetes, the pancreas is still producing insulin, unlike with Type I, where no insulin is produced. With Type II diabetes, though insulin is being produced and is present, the body is unable to process it correctly. The insulin is there, it is just that the cells in the body do not respond to it. Type II diabetes can happen at any age and is becoming increasingly present in children. It is often caused by a diet too high in simple carbohydrates as well as other unhealthy foods.
Unlike Type I diabetes, Type II diabetes can often be effectively treated and controlled without medication. Adjustments to diet and lifestyle will go a long way towards correcting the issues the body has with being able to process the insulin being produced by the pancreas. A healthier diet combined with exercise will help the patient reach and maintain a healthy weight, and reduce the blood sugar levels and improve the body’s response to insulin.