Diabetes is caused by your body not making enough or any of a hormone called insulin, or the insulin not working properly (insulin resistance).
Insulin helps your body use glucose (sugar) for energy. Without it, the level of glucose in your blood becomes too high.
Types of diabetes
- Type 1 diabetes- It's not possible to prevent type 1 diabetes because it's usually caused by a problem with your immune system (autoimmune condition). Often diagnosed in childhood, but you can get it at any age.
- Type 2 diabetes- You may be more likely to get type 2 diabetes because of your weight, age, ethnicity, or if other people in your family have it. However you can reduce your risk of getting type 2 diabetes by making lifestyle changes such as: eating a balanced diet, exercising regularly, maintaining a healthy weight
