What It Is
Diabetes (medically known as diabetes mellitus) is a disorder of the metabolism where the body has trouble using glucose, or blood sugar, for energy. When we eat, our bodies break down foods known as carbohydrates (fruits, vegetables, breads, pastas, dairy and sweets) into glucose, which is spread to our cells through the blood stream.
When our body's systems detect glucose in the blood (particularly during meal or snack times), an organ called the pancreas releases an appropriate amount of a hormone called insulin. Insulin makes it possible for our cells to absorb glucose and provide the energy our bodies and brains need to function.
