Diabetes is a chronic medical condition that arises when the level of sugar, known as blood glucose, in your bloodstream becomes excessively high. Blood glucose serves as the primary source of energy for your body and is derived from the food you consume. To facilitate the utilization of glucose for energy, a vital hormone produced by the pancreas called insulin plays a crucial role.

Insulin acts as a key that unlocks the cells in your body, allowing glucose to enter and be utilized as fuel. When you consume food, particularly carbohydrates, your digestive system breaks them down into glucose molecules, which then enter your bloodstream. In response, the pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream, which acts as a messenger to signal the cells to open up and absorb glucose.

In individuals with diabetes, the body encounters difficulties in producing or effectively utilizing insulin. This can lead to a buildup of glucose in the bloodstream, resulting in high blood sugar levels. There are different types of diabetes, including type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes, and gestational diabetes, each with its own underlying causes and mechanisms.

In type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. As a result, the body is unable to produce sufficient amounts of insulin, or in some cases, no insulin at all. Type 1 diabetes typically develops early in life, often during childhood or adolescence, and requires lifelong insulin therapy to manage blood sugar levels.

Type 2 diabetes, on the other hand, is characterized by insulin resistance, meaning that the body's cells become less responsive to the effects of insulin. Initially, the pancreas compensates for this resistance by producing more insulin. However, over time, the pancreas may fail to keep up with the demand, leading to insufficient insulin production and elevated blood sugar levels. Type 2 diabetes is commonly associated with lifestyle factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and poor dietary choices, although genetic and environmental factors also play a role.

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and affects some women who have never had diabetes before. Hormonal changes during pregnancy can interfere with insulin action, resulting in high blood sugar levels. Although gestational diabetes typically resolves after giving birth, women who experience it have an increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.