Diabetes is a long-term condition where blood sugar levels run too high. Type 1 arises when the body can no longer produce insulin at all - it usually appears in childhood or early adulthood and is managed with insulin treatment. Type 2, far more common, develops when the body either doesn't make enough insulin or can't use it effectively; weight, diet and activity levels all play a significant part, alongside genetic factors.
Watch out for symptoms such as being unusually thirsty, needing to urinate more frequently, ongoing tiredness, and losing weight without meaning to. Type 2 diabetes can frequently be improved - and sometimes reversed into remission - through changes to diet, weight and activity, alongside medication where it's needed. A simple blood test at the GP surgery is all it takes to check.
Related: our healthy diets and exercise pages.
Common questions
What sets type 1 diabetes apart from type 2?
Type 1 occurs when the body stops making insulin altogether, while type 2 develops when the body either doesn't make enough insulin or stops responding to it properly - a form closely tied to weight, diet and activity levels.
What symptoms might point to diabetes?
Feeling unusually thirsty, needing the toilet more often, persistent tiredness and losing weight without trying are common signs.