Our bodies are made up of millions of cells -each one programmed to do a job. Although a single cell is so tiny that you cannot see it without a microscope, all of the action that takes place in the body happens in the cells. Since cells are living organisms, they need two things to stay alive and do their jobs -oxygen and glucose (sugar).

In a factory, raw materials are brought in and the workers in the factory change these materials into a product. Cells take in materials and use them to generate energy to do cellular work and they are only able to get this energy by burning glucose in the presence of oxygen. Although these materials are carried to the cells in the blood, cells are very particular about what gets inside. Oxygen gets in through simple diffusion, but glucose needs a key to get inside the cell and insulin is that key.

When you eat a meal, all the starchy foods (carbohydrates) are changed to sugar in its simplest form glucose. When glucose levels in the blood get higher the pancreas adds insulin to the blood so it can unlock the cells and let glucose inside. This lowers blood sugar levels and in turn the pancreas stops adding insulin. The system works well unless the cells become resistant to insulin, and when that happens insulin can no longer unlock the door and glucose cannot move into the cells. When cells are starved for glucose they have no energy to work efficiently and glucose continues to build up in the blood. In response to the high levels of glucose, the pancreas continues to put even more insulin into the blood so the person has higher than normal levels of both glucose and insulin in the blood.

This is a very basic sketch of what happens when a person has Type" diabetes. The number of people who have Type" diabetes is growing throughout the nation and is particularly high in West Virginia. To find out what this has to do with Lions, call Lion Mary Klages, Diabetes Awareness Chairperson to present a program at your club. Home phone 740-671-0402 or email at  mary_klages@yahoo.com.