Your body has a system that keeps blood sugar in balance. When blood sugar levels in your body go over the limit, your pancreas secretes insulin to bring it under control. If your blood sugar levels get low, your liver releases stored sugar to restore your blood sugar level to between 70 mg/dl and 110 mg/dl. If you have diabetes, your body cannot produce enough insulin to control your blood sugar, and insulin injections might be needed.
Types of Diabetes
Type 1 diabetes happens when your body does not produce enough, or any, insulin. When your blood sugar rises, your body cannot control it. Blood sugar remains high until an injection of insulin helps get the sugar into the cells where it is processed by the tissues and organs. Type 2 diabetes happens when your body does not produce enough insulin, or your body is not sensitive enough to the insulin produced. Your blood sugar remains high, telling your body to produce more insulin, but it cannot use it to pull the sugar into the cells.
Insulin
Insulin tells the cells of the body to start absorbing glucose. It also signals the liver to store extra glucose that the body does not need to use at that time. These two actions lower the amount of sugar in the blood and keep your blood sugar range within normal limits.
Ketoacidosis
Diabetic ketoacidosis is when your body cannot get sugar from the blood into the cells to use for fuel. The body starts to burn fat to create energy. When this happens waste products, called ketones, begin to build up in your blood. If your body burns fat for energy, ketones are also found in your urine. Ketones are an acidic substance that is poisonous when the levels are too high. As the ketone level rises in your body, your liver will release more glucose to try to balance the levels. This increases your blood sugar level, as your body cannot process the glucose without an adequate supply of insulin. This condition can quickly become a medical emergency and lead to difficulty breathing and loss of consciousness.
Insulin Injections
If your body cannot produce enough insulin to keep your blood sugar controlled, your doctor will prescribe insulin injections. There are many different types of insulin, and dosing regimens, available to suit your individual needs. If you are taking insulin injections, measure your blood sugar regularly to make sure it is not too high or too low.
