Diabetes is a chronic metabolic disorder that fundamentally changes how your body converts food into energy. When you eat, your digestive system breaks carbohydrates down into glucose (sugar), which enters your bloodstream. Normally, the pancreas releases a hormone called insulin, which acts like a key to unlock your cells so they can absorb glucose and use it for fuel.
In a person with diabetes, this process fails: either the body does not make enough insulin, or it cannot use the insulin effectively, causing glucose to build up in the bloodstream (hyperglycemia). Over time, this excess blood sugar damages blood vessels and nerves, increasing the risk of heart disease, stroke, kidney failure, and vision loss. Essential Facts: The Main Types of Diabetes
While all forms of diabetes result in high blood sugar, they have distinct underlying causes: Diabetes Basics – CDC
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