What is diabetes?

In this section, you’ll learn about:

• what diabetes is 
• what complications can occur as a result of diabetes 

The pancreas produces a hormone known as insulin. Insulin helps glucose get into our cells, so it can be used for energy.^{1, 2} Diabetes occurs when the pancreas can no longer make insulin or cannot use the insulin it produces. As a result, the level of glucose in the blood gets too high.

There are two types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes: When the pancreas doesn’t produce insulin. Type 1 is usually diagnosed in children and young adults.²

• Type 2 diabetes: When the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin or doesn’t use it well. This type of diabetes occurs most often in middle-aged and older people, and is increasing in most countries.^{2, 3} Diabetic foot disease is men with type 2 diabetes.³

Diabetes can lead to complications in various organs and tissues. These include:^1,3

• retinopathy (i.e. damage to eyes)
• cardiovascular disease (e.g. stroke, peripheral artery damage, heart attack)
• nephropathy (i.e. kidney damage)
• neuropathy (i.e. nerve damage and, as a result, amputation of lower limbs or parts of lower limbs)

Diabetes and its complications are rapidly becoming the world’s most significant cause of morbidity and mortality.¹

To find out more about how neuropathy can lead to amputation, read about Diabetic foot ulcers here.

It’s predicted that by 2045, there will be over 629 million people with diabetes in the world. Almost half of this number will be undiagnosed.^{1, 2.}