Understanding diabetes and its impact on food
To recognize the impact of food on people with diabetes, it’s important to understand the condition itself. There are 2 main types of diabetes:
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the body’s immune system destroys the beta cells in the pancreas; as a result, the pancreas can no longer produce insulin.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body makes insulin, but can’t use it properly (this is called insulin resistance) or insulin production in the pancreas decreases (this is called insulin deficiency).
When the body doesn’t produce enough insulin, glucose builds up in your bloodstream rather than getting into the cells to provide energy.
Many foods that you eat can have an effect on your blood sugar levels. Carbohydrates especially are an important part of your nutrition plan, because they are one of the body’s main sources of energy. However, they have the greatest effect on your blood sugar. Eating too few carbohydrates can lead to low blood sugar (hyperglycemia), while eating too many can lead to high blood sugar (hyperglycemia).
