What is diabetes?

Diabetes is a chronic (long-term) disease and there is no cure.

Insulin is a hormone made by your body to control your sugar levels. In people with diabetes, blood sugar levels are higher than normal because the body does not produce enough insulin or use insulin properly.

There are two main types of diabetes - type 1 and type 2.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body is unable to produce enough insulin.

Type 2 diabetes occurs when the body becomes resistant to the effects of insulin, or no longer produces enough insulin to maintain normal blood sugar levels.

Type 2 diabetes is the most common form of diabetes.