Diabetes affects the way the body metabolizes, or uses, digested food to make glucose, the main source of fuel for the body.

What causes diabetes? Scientists aren't sure, but heredity, obesity, lack of exercise and other factors play a part.

A person with type 2 diabetes either can't make enough insulin or can't properly use it.

Because of recent medical advances, people with diabetes can do a lot more these days to help control their disease.

Do you sometimes wonder if you can keep up with the day-to day management of your diabetes? It's natural to feel overwhelmed sometimes. Try these tips to help keep yourself on the path to good health.

Meal planning and blood sugar monitoring. Medicines and multiple injections. The day-in and day-out requirements of diabetes management can overwhelm those with this chronic disease.

Metabolic syndrome is marked by higher levels of glucose in the blood. That's also a sign of pre-diabetes.

Although people with pre-diabetes haven’t yet developed full-blown diabetes, they’re still at risk because studies show that many people with pre-diabetes develop the condition within 10 years.

Heart disease, high blood pressure, and kidney disease are some of the complications of diabetes.

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of blindness in American adults. It is caused by changes in the blood vessels of the retina.

Most of us know that diabetes can lead to severe complications, such as blindness, kidney disease and amputations. But did you know that diabetes also greatly increases the risk of cardiovascular disease?

Once you know the risk to your heart health, you can start focusing on something positive: You can take steps right now to keep your heart pumping soundly and your blood flowing smoothly.

Diabetes affects the cardiovascular system, but many problems aren't apparent until a person has a heart attack or stroke.

If you have diabetes, you are twice as likely to have high blood pressure. Untreated, high blood pressure can raise your risk for heart disease.

Diabetes can damage the nerves in your feet, as well as lead to blood vessel disease. These conditions make it more difficult to notice when you injure your foot or develop a sore.

It's not high blood sugar, heart disease, or stroke that most often puts people with diabetes in the hospital. It's their feet.