How does type 1 diabetes cause high blood sugar levels?
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If you have type 1 diabetes, your pancreas has stopped -- or nearly stopped -- making insulin. Insulin allows glucose to cross out of your bloodstream and go into your body's cells -- it's like a key that "unlocks" the cells. Without an insulin "key" you have no way to "unlock" your cells to allow glucose from your bloodstream to enter. You also have no way to block the release of glucose from your liver into your bloodstream. Your blood glucose gets too high.If you have type 1 diabetes, your pancreas has stopped -- or nearly stopped -- making insulin. Insulin allows glucose to cross out of your bloodstream and go into your body's cells -- it's like a key that "unlocks" the cells. Without an... More -
Geri Spollett answered:In type 1 diabetes the body cannot produce enough insulin to allow the cells of the body to utilize glucose, which is the simplest form of sugar used for energy. The pancreas is the organ of the body that produces insulin. It is made in beta cells. These tiny cells are scattered throughout the pancreas and they work hard to make the right amount of insulin needed for our body to access to the glucose derived from the foods we eat and to store it for later use in the liver. When the beta cell cannot continue to produce insulin at the amount necessary for using and storing glucose properly, then that glucose remains in the blood stream raising the levels above the normal range. We refer to this as high blood sugar.
In type 1 diabetes the body cannot produce enough insulin to allow the cells of the body to utilize glucose, which is the simplest form of sugar used for energy. The pancreas is the organ of the body that produces insulin. It is made in beta cells.... More
