Diabetes

There are two main types of diabetes:

• Type 1 Diabetes – where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin
• Type 2 Diabetes – where the body doesn't produce enough insulin, or the body's cells don't react to insulin

Insulin is a hormone made in the pancreas (an organ near your stomach) that helps your body digest sugars (carbohydrate) and helps you use sugar for energy. Medication, insulin and/or dietary changes can help your body process sugar and maintain healthier blood sugar levels.

Type 2 Diabetes is far more common than Type 1 Diabetes. In the UK, around 90% of all adults with diabetes have Type 2 Diabetes.

During pregnancy, some women have such high levels of blood glucose that their body is unable to produce enough insulin to absorb it all. This is known as Gestational Diabetes.