Diabetes is a chronic disease that can be explained by two main factors: - The body cannot make enough insulin (type 1 diabetes) - The body fails to use insulin effectively (type 2 diabetes) Insulin makes it possible to metabolise sugar to control blood sugar levels. Sugar is essential for health as it provides an important source of energy for muscles, heart, cells and brain. So, when the body fails to convert sugar into energy, the level of glucose in the blood becomes too high. The main consequence of this is damage to the blood vessels or organs. Learn more about diabetes