9781422280379

Chapter One

What Is the Endocrine System? Y ou have probably heard of diabetes. More than 29 million Americans have it—almost 1 out of every 10. You almost certainly know someone with diabetes. Maybe that person is a grandparent or an elderly neighbor. It is very common among older adults, but kids can get it, too. If you have diabetes, you’re not alone—more than 200,000 people in the United States under the age of 20 have diabetes. But what is diabetes? Diabetes is not just one illness. It’s the name given to a number of diseases that share some of the same symptoms. Some of these diseases are rare, while others are extremely common. All the different forms of diabetes affect the endocrine system . The endocrine system is made up of glands that produce hormones . Hormones are a kind of language the body uses to communicate with its cells and tissues. They are signals that tell cells what to do, and how fast to do it. Some hormones tell the body to grow. Others tell the body how to use the energy it gets from food. Hormones can control moods, sleep cycles, and many other things. When a body has trouble making certain hormones

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