Diabetes or, to give it its full name, diabetes mellitus, is a common condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body is unable to use it properly.

Normally, a person's pancreas (an organ in the body which plays a role in digestion) produces a natural hormone called insulin, which controls the levels of glucose in the blood. Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or produces insulin but cannot use it properly.

The main aim of treatment of both types of diabetes is to achieve blood glucose and blood pressure levels as near to normal as possible. This, together with a healthy lifestyle, will help to improve wellbeing and protect against long-term damage to the eyes, kidneys, nerves, heart and major arteries.

There are two types of diabetes:

Type 1 diabetes

Type 1 diabetes (also called insulin-dependent diabetes) occurs when there is a severe lack of insulin in the body because most, or all, of the cells in the pancreas that produce it have been destroyed.

This type of diabetes usually appears in people under the age of 40, often in childhood, and is treated by insulin injections and diet.

Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes (also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes) develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough for its needs, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance).
This type of diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40, though it can appear in younger people.