Proper glucose (blood sugar) levels are imperative for the body to function correctly. Diabetes is a disease that is caused by a glucose imbalance in the body. Diabetes is the 5th leading cause of death in the U.S. Type II (late onset) diabetes develops slowly over time usually in people who do not have healthy diets, are not active enough and/or are overweight. Checking glucose levels often increases blood sugar awareness. It is much better to detect any problems before they are life altering. Glucose is measured by taking a small amount of blood from your finger and is often done in conjunction with a cholesterol test.