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Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease that occurs when the body cannot use glucose for energy, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels.

Many people do not have symptoms. Those who do often experience:

• Frequent Urination: The kidneys react to excess sugar by flushing it out of the blood, creating more urine.
• Blurred Vision: The rapid changes in blood sugar levels can damage the capillaries in the eyes, putting a strain on the eye’s muscles. The eye muscles end up having to work harder to focus the lens of the eye, causing blurred vision. 
• Fatigue: The body uses glucose as a source of energy. When the body has excess sugar, it can't convert enough of it, leaving you tired.
• Slowed Healing of Cuts and Wounds: Unusual amounts of glucose can damage the blood vessels and nerves, interfering with blood circulation. 
• Increased Hunger and Thirst: Since the body flushes glucose out through urination, this leaves the body hungry and dehydrated.
• Unexplained Weight Loss: When the body cannot convert glucose to energy, it begins using fat and muscle as energy, resulting in weight loss.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that is commonly diagnosed in childhood, but can be developed at any age.

Causes: Type 1 diabetes is caused by the pancreas not producing any insulin. 

Risk Factors: People at risk for developing type 1 diabetes include those with a family history of diabetes, injury to the pancreas, physical stress, and/or the presence of autoantibodies.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way the body processes sugar. 

Causes: In type 2 diabetics, the body either doesn't produce enough insulin or doesn't respond properly to the insulin it produces.

Risk Factors: People at risk for type 2 diabetes include those who have high blood pressure, unhealthy eating habits, and/or people over the age of 45.

Gestational diabetes is a form of diabetes that affects pregnant women.

Causes: Gestational diabetes is caused by a buildup of sugar in the blood due to hormones produced by the placenta.

Risk Factors: Women at risk for gestational diabetes include those who are overweight, over the age of 25, and/or have had a miscarriage.

37 million people in the United States have diabetes.

537 million people in the world between the ages 20 - 79 have diabetes.

783 million people are estimated to have diabetes by 2030.

240 million adults with diabetes that are undiagnosed.