Dealing With Diabetes During The Holidays

In 2015, 30.3 million Americans, or 9.4% of the population, had diabetes, a treatable, but yet uncurable disease that affects the way your body regulates blood sugar. There are two main types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. People with Type 1 diabetes don’t produce insulin whereas people with Type 2 diabetes don’t respond to insulin as well as they should.

In type 1 diabetes, your immune system mistakes your body’s own healthy cells as foreign invaders. The immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. After these beta cells are destroyed, the body is unable to produce insulin. Researchers don’t know why the immune system attacks the body’s own cells. It may have something to do with genetic and environmental factors, like exposure to viruses. Research is ongoing.

People with type 2 diabetes have insulin resistance. The body still produces insulin, but it’s unable to use it effectively. Researchers aren’t sure why some people become insulin resistance and others don’t, but several lifestyle factors may contribute, including excess weight and inactivity.
Other genetic and environmental factors may also contribute. When you develop type 2 diabetes, your pancreas will try to compensate by producing more insulin. Because your body is unable to effectively use insulin, glucose will accumulate in your bloodstream.

People with type 2 diabetes need to focus on eating a healthy diet, which can be quite hard during the holidays. With Thanksgiving just around the corner, here are some diabetic friendly recipes of some thanks giving favorites.