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, also commonly known as diabetes , is a long-term metabolic disorder that causes high levels of glucose (fasting >126 mg/dl and/or post-prandial>200 mg/dl) in the blood. Diabetes factsheet from WHO providing key facts and information on types of diabetes , symptoms, common consequences, economic impact, diagnosis and treatment, WHO response. 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]