Diabetes (scientifically known as Diabetes Mellitus) is a group of metabolic diseases defined by an elevated glucose concentration in the body.

This is because the body becomes defective in insulin secretion and/or has an inability to use insulin. Insulin is a hormone the body uses to allow glucose sugar to enter cells to produce energy.

Type 1 (5-10% of all cases):

• Is a condition where the pancreas produces little or no insulin
  
  
• Type 1 is most often caused by autoimmune destruction of the insulin producing cells of the Pancreas
  
  
• Usually appears during childhood or due to factors such as genetics and some viruses
  
  

Type 2 (90% of all cases)

• Is caused by insulin resistant skeletal muscle and liver
  
  
• This means the body becomes resistant to the normal effects of insulin
  
  
• The body will also gradually lose the capacity to produce enough insulin in the pancreas
  
  
• A common feature is excess body fat specifically in the upper body (abdomen)
  
  
• Type 2 Diabetes has strong genetic and family related risk factors, however it is often associated with modifiable lifestyle risk factors such as diet (sugar intake) and physical activity levels
  
  

Finger pricking is a common way to measure blood glucose levels