Glucose (sugar) is your body's major form of fuel. Sugar is absorbed from food and, with the help of insulin, stored for later use when you need it. As you read this article, your body is burning sugar that you absorbed earlier today or last night when you last ate. Your heart is pumping, chest expanding as air rushes into your lungs and tiny nerve cells in your brain are receiving and interpreting all that your senses perceive. All of these processes are fueled by sugar.

Sometimes, however, things don't go as planned and sugar levels become unbalanced. Either your body can't make the insulin you need to store sugar for later use or the cells in your body become resistant to the effects of insulin. Too much sugar in your blood leads to nerve and blood vessel damage that can affect your eyes, kidneys, feet, legs, heart and brain. This is Diabetes Mellitus.

Diabetes Mellitus is a leading cause of blindness, kidney failure and amputations in Kentucky. It is universally recognized as a major risk factor for heart