Understanding Diabetes Diabetes is a chronic health condition involving elevated blood sugar (or blood glucose) levels in the body. When blood sugar rises in a healthy body, a hormone called insulin is released to bring these levels down. In someone with diabetes, their body cannot lower their blood sugar due to no insulin being produced, not enough insulin being produced or the body becoming resistant to insulin. Elevated blood sugar levels can lead to long term damage of your eyes, blood vessels, nerves and kidneys. Types of Diabetes - Type 1 Diabetes: an autoimmune disease where the body attacks the pancreas (which produces insulin. - Type 2 Diabetes: a lifestyle disease where the body gradually becomes resistant to the effects of insulin and stops producing enough insulin. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. - Gestational Diabetes: elevated blood glucose levels occurring during pregnancy. Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes with more than 95% of diabetes cases being this form of diabetes. There are also a lot of factors that contribute to developing type 2 diabetes, such as age, smoking, nutrition and exercise levels. Learn how exercise physiology can benefit people with diabetes. #AlphaSportsMedicineMaidstone #AlphaMaidstone #ExercisePhysiology #Diabetes #ExerciseTherapy #DiabetesManagement #ExerciseTherapist #ExercisePhysiologist