The metabolic disorder that does not allow processed food to be converted into energy or growth properly is called diabetes. We use glucose, which is transported around the body by blood, as a form of energy which comes from food containing sugar. Diabetes interrupts the transportation of glucose around the body. It is essential that the glucose is absorbed into the body but this condition creates high levels to accumulate in the blood.

There are two main types of the condition; both are discussed briefly in this article. Juvenile onset diabetes is called type one and usually, but not always, affects children and young adults and is where the body's production of insulin has ceased; daily injections of insulin are needed if the diabetic patient does not want to die. Without insulin the glucose cannot be used by the body to be converted into energy. The other type of diabetes (type 2 or late onset) is not quite so severe; this can be controlled by diet but is caused by problems with the insulin production or its function.

Most of the food humans eat can be converted into sugar which provides us with energy. Some serious conditions can result from excess levels of glucose in the blood including blindness, heart and kidney disease and even the removal of limbs. By sticking to a diabetes health care regime, most of these conditions can be helped; some of the possible conditions will be halted completely whilst others will be delayed. To manage your condition well, ensure you take your medication; it is very important that you don't smoke and maintain your blood glucose levels, cholesterol and other blood fats within your target range.

Apart from this, your blood pressure and weight should not go above the limits your doctor advised. Diabetes is a life long condition if you are unlucky enough to contract it; currently approx 2.6 percent of the U.S. population or about 5.5 million Americans, are known to have this health problem. However, it is estimated that about the same number of people again have the condition; each year there are over six hundred thousand new cases. It is a worrying fact that whilst 34,000 American citizens die each year as a direct result of diabetes, another 320,000 die that have the condition where it may be an underlying reason.