Diabetes is a medical condition in which the body is unable to use blood sugar as energy, because the pancreas doesn’t produce enough insulin, which is the hormone that balances the amount of glucose in the blood. Lack of insulin leads to high blood glucose levels, which in turn damage our blood vessels and nerves, and so diabetes can affect any part of the body, including our gums. And if gum disease is left untreated, it can lead to periodontal disease.