Diabetes
Biology Coursework
Diabetes
Diabetes is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in your blood is either too high or too low because the body cannot use it properly. The body uses glucose for energy by digesting carbohydrates which can be found in foods such as: rice, pasta, grain, potatoes, fruits, a few vegetables, and processed sweets. Although it cannot be cured diabetes can be controlled with either insulin injections or a healthier diet. The aim of treating diabetes is to reduce the blood glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol levels by as much as possible this will give people with diabetes a better quality of life and will help prevent long-term problems with the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and major arteries. There are currently over 2.3 million people with diabetes in the United Kingdom and up to another 750,000 people with diabetes who have the condition and don’t know it.
Type I
Type I diabetes or juvenile diabetes is the least common out of the two main types and only effects between 5-15% of all people with diabetes. Type I develops when the body cannot produce insulin and usually occurs before the age of 40.
Type II
Type II diabetes develops when the pancreas cannot produce insulin to meet the body's needs or the insulin is not metabolised effectively, this usually occurs when the person suffering from type II diabetes is overweight. It is the most common out of the two main types normally effecting between 85-95% of people with diabetes. It is most common in people over the age of 40 but recently more children are being diagnosed with the condition.
Here is a graph showing the percentages of people who have diabetes in the US.

Treatment of Diabetes
Type I diabetes can be treated by staying physically active and exercising regularly, maintaining a constant weight and eating a sensible diet. Also it is...
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