A healthy diet is recommended for people with diabetes. It is also important to do more exercise to control weight and reduce the risk of a heart disease, high blood pressure and stroke.

The main symptoms of untreated diabetes are increased thirst, needing the toilet all of the time (especially at night), extreme tiredness, weight loss and blurred vision.

There are two main types of diabetes:

Type 1, which is also known as insulin-dependant diabetes

Type 2, also known as non-insulin dependant diabetes.

Blood Glucose, Blood Pressure

Type 1 diabetes develops when the insulin producing cells in the pancreas have been destroyed. The most likely cause is an abnormal reaction by the body to the cells. This could be caused by a viral or other infection. This type of diabetes usually appears before the age of 40 and affects both sexes equally. A healthy diet and regular exercise is recommended, and it is treated by insulin injections.

Type 2 diabetes develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough, or when the insulin produced doesn't work properly. This type of diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40.

It can be treated by diet and exercise alone; or by diet, exercise and tablets; or by diet, exercise and insulin injections.

The main aim of treatment of both types of diabetes is for blood glucose and blood pressure levels to be as near to normal as possible. This, along with a healthy lifestyle, will help to improve wellbeing.

Diabetes Risk Factors

Diabetes is a common health condition.

About 1.8 million people in the UK are estimated to have it. About three quarters of people who have diabetes have type 2.

The people most at risk of developing type 2 diabetes are

There are some other causes of diabetes, including some diseases of the pancreas, but they are all very rare.

It is very easy to manage diabetes and detect symptoms early. A healthy diet is recommended for people with diabetes. It is the same healthy diet that is recommended for everyone.

It is also important to do more exercise, not just to control weight, but to reduce the risk of a heart disease, high blood pressure and a stroke.

Childhood Diabetes

Around 90-95% of children under the age of 16 who have diabetes have type 1.

Childhood diabetes isn't very common, but there are noticeable variations around the world. The last 30 years has seen an increase in the number of childhood cases around the world.

In Europe and America, type 2 diabetes has been seen in young people for the first time. This could be caused by the increased trend in obesity in our society. However obesity doesn't explain the increase in the numbers of type 1 diabetes in children, who make up the majority of new cases.

The cause of childhood diabetes is not yet understood. It could involve a number of genes and environmental triggers.

Most children who develop type 1 diabetes don't have a family history of diabetes. The symptoms for it are the same as the symptoms for adults.

Most children with diabetes need insulin treatment. Most use frequent daily dosage regimes of fast acting insulin during the day and slow acting insulin at night.

As well as insulin treatment, good glucose control and avoidance of "hypos" (low blood glucose attacks) is important.

A child who develops diabetes lives longer with the condition than someone who develops diabetes in adulthood.

The longer diabetes is present, the higher the risk is of long-term complications, such as complications affecting the eyes and kidneys. Regular check-ups are important.