By Body Systems
By Organ Diseases / Conditions
By Lab Test Name
Tests By Sample Type
Diabetes is a chronic (long term) condition marked by abnormally high levels of sugar (glucose) in the blood. People with diabetes either do not produce enough insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that is needed to convert sugar, starches, and other food into energy needed for daily life, or cannot use the insulin that their bodies produce. As a result, glucose builds up in the bloodstream. If left untreated, diabetes can lead to blindness, kidney disease, nerve disease, heart disease, and stroke. Diabetes mellitus is a group of metabolic diseases characterized by high blood sugar (glucose) levels that result from defects in insulin secretion, its action, or both.
Although it can be controlled, it lasts a lifetime.
