Diabetes is a complicated chronic disease that affects millions of Americans and hundreds of millions of people worldwide. When most people think of diabetes they think of sugar. Yet, understanding diabetes requires the knowledge that diabetes can affect every system of the body, leading severe complications. Type 1 diabetes is an insulin-dependent form that most often appears early in life when an autoimmune response triggers destruction of pancreatic beta-cells responsible for producing insulin. Type 2 diabetes is often called adult on-set diabetes and it is non insulin-dependent. Scientists continue to research the exact mechanism that triggers type 2 diabetes, however there are several heightened risk factors, particularly obesity. Insulin resistance or dysfunction characterizes type 2 diabetes, meaning cells become less receptive to the effects of insulin and/or the pancreas produces insufficient amounts. The importance of insulin is its role in the metabolic process. When food is consumed, it is turned …