What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic (long lasting) illness that occurs when one’s body does not make enough insulin or when one’s body is resistant to the insulin produced.

Carbohydrates are found in the various foods and/or beverages a person consumes daily. Once carbohydrates are broken down, glucose (sugar) is produced.

Insulin is necessary because it helps glucose (sugar) enter a person’s cells/organs, where it is used as a fuel (energy) source.

If diabetes is not properly managed and one’s blood sugar remains elevated, a person is at risk of developing heart disease, kidney disease, blindness, amputations, and/or a host of other complications.

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2021