Diabetes is a disease affecting how the body uses blood sugar (glucose). Glucose is a sugar that the cells use for energy, which the body makes from the food we eat. Normally, when you eat something that gets transformed into sugar and sent into the bloodstream, the pancreas is sent a signal to begin producing insulin. Insulin makes it possible for cells to use the glucose. As the body uses up the glucose in the cells, or stores it in fat cells the insulin level drops as the pancreas stops producing insulin. In diabetes Type I, the pancreas doesn't make any or enough insulin, so the cells can't use the glucose available. In Type II diabetes, usually caused by obesity, there is enough insulin, but the cells become unable to use it because there is too much glucose in the system, for too long. Either way, when the glucose stays in the body too long, and isn't processed out, many cells are starved for energy, while others are damaged due to over exposure to glucose. Nerves are particularly sensitive to too much glucose. So after a while people with diabetes will begin to have problems with their eyes because the optic nerve gets damaged by the high glucose exposure. They will also have problems with circulation, and neuropathy, or death of nerves in their feet. They also have increased chances of heart disease and kidney disease.
