Diabetes is a group of metabolic conditions that cause the level of sugar in your blood to become excessively high. There are 3 major types of diabetes: type 1, type 2, and gestational diabetes.

Diabetes is considered an epidemic due to the rapid rate in which people are being diagnosed with it. According to the CDC, over 30 million people in the US alone have diabetes, with one in five of those people not being aware that they have the condition. Moreover, diabetes is rapidly becoming one of the biggest causes of death worldwide, currently ranking 7^th and increasing each year.

Diabetes requires careful monitoring of blood sugar levels. Without ongoing management, diabetes could result in hyperglycemia, which is high blood sugar levels. Chronically elevated high blood sugar levels increase the risk of dangerous complications such as nerve damage, eye problems, kidney disease, sexual dysfunction, stroke, and coronary heart disease.

Insulin, which is a hormone that is secreted by pancreas, allows sugar (glucose) to enter the cells to make energy. If your body cannot use insulin properly or is not making enough of it, you will suffer from diabetes. In this case, you will need to implement diet and lifestyle changes such as weight loss and low glycemic diets to help reduce high blood sugar.

In addition, if medications are needed, people with type 2 diabetes often start with a glucose lowering agents like metformin. However, for those with type 1, an injection of insulin hormone will be necessary to control blood sugar.