Diabetes mellitus commonly known as diabetes is a metabolic disease that causes high blood sugar the hormone insulin moves sugar from the blood into your cells to be stored or used for energy. Your guide to diabetes diabetes affects roughly two and a half million canadians left untreated diabetes can lead to many serious complications including heart disease kidney disease vision loss and lower limb amputation the public health agency of canada phac estimates that 5 million canadians over the age of 20 are currently pre diabetic an additional 1 million new cases of pre diabetes are expected by 2016. Maintaining blood glucose and fat at a healthy level will help a person with diabetes lead a normal life it can also prevent or decrease the risk of complications such as damage to the kidneys or eyes heart diseases and circulation problems in the legs a proper diet is critical to disease management