You are not alone – diabetes affects 180 million-plus people around the world. Diabetes is a chronic metabolic condition that affects every organ, cell, nerve and blood vessel in the body. This condition is created when the pancreas can’t produce enough insulin for the body, or the body doesn’t respond normally to the insulin being made, causing blood glucose levels to rise and cell damage to every organ – including the largest organ in the body, your skin.

Diabetes affects both men and women. And whether you have Type 1 (known as insulin-dependent diabetes), or Type 2 (non-insulin-dependent, or insulin-resistant diabetes), this condition creates changes in your skin that can leave you at-risk for skin problems. If undetected or poorly controlled, diabetes can lead to lower limb amputation, blindness, kidney failure, stroke, heart attack and impotence.