Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes is a common long-term disease that is caused by high levels of sugar in the blood. It is also known as diabetes mellitus, which is the Latin name for diabetes.

Your body’s digestive system breaks down the food you eat and sends the nutrients into your bloodstream. A hormone called insulin, which is produced in the pancreas, is used to move glucose in your blood into your cells, where it is broken down to produce energy.

If, however, your body doesn't make enough insulin or cannot use the insulin it produces effectively, the amount of sugar in your blood can become dangerously high, leading to the risk of diabetes mellitus.

If left untreated, diabetes can increase your chances of developing other serious health complications/conditions including heart disease, kidney failure and stroke.

How many people are affected by diabetes

More than 180 million people worldwide have diabetes, according to the World Health Organization.

In India, around 50.8 million people are affected by diabetes. It is only in China that you will find a greater diabetic population, with 92.4 million Chinese adults affected by diabetes.