Almost 24 million people in the U.S. have diabetes. Nearly 6 million of them have not been diagnosed.

Diabetes is a disease where the body has problems processing or creating insulin. Insulin plays an important role in converting the sugars and starches you eat into energy for your body. Without the right amount of insulin, unprocessed nutrients from your food can enter your bloodstream instead of the cells where they belong. The result is that your body becomes deprived of the energy it needs to function properly. Worse, the added nutrients that are introduced into your bloodstream can do serious harm to your organs. Diabetes is also chronic, which means that it will continue to affect you throughout life.

But while there is no cure, diabetes is a disease that can be managed and controlled. The most dangerous cases of diabetes are those where the disease is undetected or ignored. With proper information and assistance from trained professionals, like those at the 1st Step Diabetes Wellness Center, individuals with diabetes can maintain normal, healthy lives. In addition, if you’re at risk for diabetes but don’t yet have it, there are several simple steps you can take to ensure your long-term health. The most important thing to do is to educate yourself and take action.