Diabetes is a disease in which levels of glucose (sugar) in the bloodstream are higher than normal. Glucose is produced by the body from the foods you eat. The hormone insulin takes glucose from the bloodstream and carries it into your cells where it is used for energy. Insulin is produced by the pancreas, an organ located in your abdomen.
Diabetes occurs when the pancreas does not produce insulin (called type 1, or insulin-dependent, diabetes) or when the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin (called type 2, or non-insulin-dependent, diabetes). In either case, the result is that glucose does not enter the cells and builds up in the bloodstream.
Keeping blood sugar levels close to normal is key to preventing a number of serious complications from diabetes including heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness, and nerve damage.
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Resource:
The Hormone Foundation
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