What is diabetes? Diabetes is a condition of high blood sugar, also called glucose. There are two major types of diabetes. Patients with type 1 diabetes fail to make insulin, the hormone that moves glucose from blood into tissues where it is used for energy. In type 2 diabetes, patients make some insulin, but not enough to overcome resistance to effects of the hormone in key organs such as muscle, liver and fat. Diabetes is one of the most common health problems in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention National Diabetes Statistics Report for 2020, more