How Diabetes Develops

4. Insulin: The Key Hormone

What Insulin Does

Insulin is a hormone made by beta cells in the pancreas. Its job is to unlock the cells so glucose can enter. It also tells the liver to store excess sugar for later use.

Insulin Resistance Explained Simply

Imagine a door that is swollen from humidity. You put the key in, but you have to push hard to open it. That is insulin resistance. Your pancreas has to produce more insulin just to get the same amount of sugar into the cells. High insulin levels often precede high sugar levels by years.

5. Prediabetes: The Reversible Stage

Prediabetes is often silent. There are usually no clear symptoms, which is why screening is vital.

Tests That Detect It

• Fasting Plasma Glucose: 100 – 125 mg/dL indicates prediabetes.
• HbA1c: 5.7% – 6.4% indicates prediabetes.

Good News: Studies show that losing just 5-7% of body weight and walking 30 minutes a day can reduce the risk of progressing to Type 2 diabetes by nearly 60%.

6. Myths That Delay Diagnosis

Myth: "I have no symptoms, so I'm fine."
Fact: Diabetes is often asymptomatic for years. By the time you feel thirsty or tired, you may have had high sugar for a long time.

Myth: "Only overweight people get diabetes."
Fact: Due to genetic factors, roughly 20% of Indians with diabetes are not overweight by BMI standards ("Lean Diabetes").

Myth: "It runs in the family, nothing can be done."
Fact: Genes load the gun, but lifestyle pulls the trigger. You cannot change your genes, but you can delay or prevent the onset through lifestyle.