Diabetes is a disease caused by blood glucose levels being too high. The pancreas makes a hormone called insulin which helps glucose from food get in to cells to be used to make energy.

In type 1 diabetes (also called Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus or IDDM), the body does not make any insulin and the immune system destroys the cells in the pancreas that make insulin.

In type 2 diabetes (also called Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus or NIDDM), the body either does not make enough insulin or does not use insulin effectively.

The main symptoms of both types are increased thirst, increased urination, feeling tired, weight loss, itching around the genitals or frequent episodes of thrush, cuts or wounds that heal slowly, and blurred vision.