Diabetes is a Chronic Disease

Diabetes is a chronic disease that affects how a person produces and responds to insulin. Insulin is the chemical key that unlocks your body's cells, allowing sugars to enter and provide energy.

If cells become resistant to insulin or if we don't make enough insulin, our bodies simply will not work properly.

People with diabetes typically have no symptoms unless their blood sugar level is at least twice normal, and then the symptoms can be fairly subtle and common even in people without diabetes-fatigue, irritability, getting up at night to urinate.

If left unchecked, elevated blood sugar can cause peripheral artery disease, nerve damage in legs and feet, degenerating eyesight, kidney failure, and heart disease.

Therefore, diabetes is a disease that has to be sought out and treated to avoid complications. Waiting for symptoms can be too late to prevent disability.