Diabetes is a condition that causes your blood sugar level to become too high. It is a lifelong condition affecting 3.2 million people in the UK. An estimated 630,000 people have diabetes but don’t know they have it.

There are two types of diabetes:

Type 1

Your body is unable to produce insulin.

Type 1 diabetes is less common than Type 2 and can develop at any age. It usually starts before age 40, often during childhood.

Type 2

Your body is unable to produce enough insulin or cannot make the insulin you have work properly.

Type 2 diabetes is much more common than Type 1. About 90% of people with diabetes have Type 2. It usually starts after age 40 although it is now affecting younger people, including children. South Asian, African-Caribbean and Middle Eastern people are at greater risk of having Type 2 diabetes.

Insulin works in your body by helping glucose (sugar) enter your body’s cells. Once it is in the cells it is used as fuel for energy.

Insulin is vital for making your body work properly. Without it you can’t lead a healthy life.