Definition

Diabetes is a disease that causes an abnormally high level of sugar, (glucose), to build up in the blood. There are two major forms of diabetes, but both forms of diabetes share the common feature of elevated blood sugar levels due to a failure of the normal regulating mechanisms.

Insulin is a key regulator of the body's metabolism. After meals, food is digested in the stomach and intestines; carbohydrates are broken down into sugar molecules, of which glucose is one. The glucose is absorbed directly into the bloodstream, and blood glucose levels rise. Normally, this rise signals important cells in the pancreas -- called beta-cells -- to secrete insulin, which pours into the bloodstream. Insulin, in turn, enables glucose to enter cells in the body where, along with other hormones, it directs whether these nutrients will be burned for energy or stored for future use. As blood sugar falls to pre-meal levels, the pancreas reduces the production of insulin, and the body uses its stored energy until the next meal provides additional nutrients.

The two major forms of Diabetes are:

Type I (previously called insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) or juvenile-onset diabetes.) which is caused by the pancreas producing too little (or none) of the hormone insulin - See the Type I Diabetes page.

Type II (previously called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes)

Type II Diabetes is the most common form of diabetes. In healthy people, insulin helps glucose get into the body's cells. In Type II Diabetes, either the body does not make enough insulin, or the body's cells ignore the insulin which is produced, so that elevated blood sugar levels occur even though the body is producing sufficient insulin.

In people with Type II Diabetes, glucose (sugar) builds up in the blood. But with good treatment, your blood sugar levels may go down to normal again. A normal blood sugar level does not mean you are cured. Instead, a normal blood sugar levels shows that your treatment plan is working and that you are doing a good job of taking care of yourself. Because the body is not able to use its insulin appropriately, the cells are unable to get the glucose they need for energy. In turn, the glucose blocked from entering the cells instead builds up in the blood, causing the symptoms and complications of diabetes.