It is a disease where you have high blood sugar or blood glucose levels. Glucose is a sugar that comes from food. In order to give energy to your cells, insulin helps glucose enter your cells. Type 1 diabetes occurs when your body doesn’t produce insulin. In type 2 diabetes, which is the most common type, insulin cannot be made or used effectively by your body. When you do not have enough insulin, glucose remains in your blood. Prediabetes is also possible. In other words, your blood sugar is higher than normal but not high enough to be considered diabetes. Prediabetes increases your risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

When your blood glucose level is too high, it can cause serious health problems over time. Your eyes, kidneys, and nerves can be damaged by it. Heart disease, stroke, and even the need to remove a limb can also be caused by diabetes. Diabetic conditions can also happen to pregnant women, termed gestational diabetes.