Diabetes mellitus is a metabolic disease where the body is unable to properly control blood glucose levels, leading to high blood sugar (hyperglycemia). There are two main types: type 1 diabetes results from an autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas causing absolute insulin deficiency, while type 2 diabetes involves insulin resistance and sometimes relative insulin deficiency, associated with obesity. Long-term complications of high blood sugar include damage to nerves, kidneys, eyes and cardiovascular disease. Diabetes affects over 425 million people worldwide and is on the rise due to increasing obesity rates.