What is Diabetes?

        Type 1 diabetes is a serious lifelong condition where the glucose levels in your body are too high because your body cannot make a hormone called insulin. Insulin is made in the pancreas (an organ near the stomach) and it allows the glucose in our blood to enter your cells and fuel your body.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the immune system (normally there to fight infection) attacks the cells in the pancreas so you cannot produce any insulin. This results in glucose building up in your bloodstream which can lead to serious complications.

If you have Type 1 diabetes you will need to get insulin into your body by either injecting it or using an insulin pump. You will attend regular check-up appointments with your diabetes care team to monitor your blood glucose levels, eyes, kidneys, heart, legs, and feet.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is much more common than type 1 diabetes and accounts for about 90% of diabetes.

Diabetes is a condition where the glucose levels in your body are too high because your body cannot make or properly use a hormone called insulin. Insulin is made in the pancreas (an organ near the stomach) and it allows the glucose in your blood to enter your cells and fuel your body.

Type 2 diabetes is different from type 1 as your pancreas usually still produces insulin, just not enough of it, or the insulin it produces doesn’t work properly.