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What Is the Endocrine System?

Diabetes Mellitus Diabetes is divided into two major categories. The most common kind, diabetes mellitus, is a chronic illness. That means it is a lifelong condition and has no known cure. It occurs when the body has trouble making or responding to a hormone called insulin . Insulin helps control cell metabolism , the process by which cells make energy. Insulin allows cells to make energy using glucose , a kind of sugar. A healthy person digests glucose from food. Glucose is absorbed into the bloodstream, which transfers it all over the body for cells to use. But if the body doesn’t make enough insulin or can’t properly use insulin, glucose builds up in the bloodstream. When blood glucose levels get high, the body begins sending excess glucose to the kidneys. The kidneys filter toxins from the blood and send them to the bladder in urine. Someone with very high blood sugar will have to urinate a lot, because the body is trying to get rid of excess glucose.

Insulin is the key that unlocks the glucose channel

Insulin Glucose

When the channel is open, glucose is able to enter the cell

Insulin receptor

Glucose channel (closed)

Insulin helps the body regulate glucose levels.

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