Diabetic: What is diabetes

What is diabetes ? Diabetes (known formally as diabetes mellitus) is a chronic illness affecting more than 37 million Americans — about one out of every 10 people. Its primary feature is high blood sugar levels, also called blood glucose levels. But what is glucose, and how is having too much of it in your bloodstream harmful? When you digest your food, chemical processes take place in your body that break down food, primarily carbohydrates, into sugars, or glucose. Glucose is an important ... Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes , is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. [10][11] Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough of the hormone insulin or the cells of the body becoming unresponsive to insulin's effects. [12] Treatment Depending on what type of diabetes you have, blood sugar monitoring, insulin and oral drugs may be part of your treatment. Eating a healthy diet, staying at a healthy weight and getting regular physical activity also are important parts of managing diabetes . Treatments for all types of diabetes An important part of managing diabetes — as well as your overall health — is keeping a healthy weight through a healthy diet and exercise plan: Healthy eating. Your diabetes diet is ... Diabetes occurs when your blood glucose is too high , which can lead to health problems. The main types of diabetes are type 1, type 2, and gestational.