Diabetes is a growing problem in our country. With our population at an all time high in weight gain and a low in health care, the problem is only growing. Diabetes (or Diabetes Mellitus) is a disease characterized by a malfunctioning metabolism and a high blood sugar level. The result can be low levels of insulin or abnormal insulin resistance. This mixed with inadequate levels of insulin secretion results in diabetes.
Our metabolism is the way our bodies use digested food for energy and growth. Most food that is processed through our bodies is broken down by digestive juices into a sugar called glucose. Glucose is the fuel our bodies run on. When we eat, and our food is processed, the pancreas is supposed to produce the right amount of glucose from our blood automatically and release the right amount of insulin into our blood.
In people with diabetes, little to no insulin is produced or the body’s cells don’t respond correctly to the insulin that is produced. Therefore, the glucose builds up and overflows into the urine and passes out of the body. This is how the body loses its main source of fuel even though the bloodstream contains good amounts of the natural glucose.
Hey Chef, just a couple points. The estimated prevalence of Diabetes is 14-16% in TnT. and we have been seeing Type 2 Diabetes in teenagers, folks in their 20’s and 30’s with increasing frequency in the last 5 years. We’re seeing folks in their 30’s and 40’s with strokes and myocardial infarcts too.I think the next challenge facing TnT chefs will be how to prepare diabetic-compliant gourmet meals.