Basic Skills for Living with Diabetes

Overview

Guidelines for diabetes care

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Diabetes health tip

a woman in bed sleeping Insufficient sleep can be dangerous
Here are some ways it affects your health.

Insulin acts like a key, opening body cells so that glucose can enter the cell to provide a source of energy.

Insulin is like the key to a car.

A car needs fuel to run, but the key provides the spark that releases the fuel.
In your body, insulin is used to "spark" the use of glucose as fuel in your cells.

Source: Allina Patient Education, Basic Skills for Living with Diabetes, fifth edition, ISBN 1-931876-32-0

First published: 12/01/2006
Last updated: 10/25/2011