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Diabetes is a disease in which the body does not produce or use insulin properly and because of this the sugar level in the blood is higher than normal. Insulin is a hormone that is needed to convert sugar, starches and other food into energy needed for daily life.

The exact cause of diabetes is unknown, although both genetic and environmental factors, as well as lifestyle issues (e.g. obesity and lack of exercise) appear to play roles.

There are two major types of diabetes:

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a disease that results from the body’s failure to produce Insulin - the hormone that “unlocks” the cells of the body, allowing glucose to enter and fuel them. This is most often the result of an autoimmune process in which the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin producing cells of the pancreas. Since glucose cannot enter the cells, it builds up in the blood while the body’s cells literally starve to death. People with Type 1 diabetes must take daily insulin injections (up to four per day) or use an insulin pump and regularly monitor blood glucose levels.

The cause is unknown, however, we do know that it has a strong family link and can be triggered by environmental factors such as viruses. Type 1 diabetes usually has nothing to do with lifestyle or obesity.

It occurs most often in children and young adults and accounts for 10-15 percent of diabetes in Australia.

Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder resulting from the body’s inability to make enough, or properly use insulin (i.e. insulin resistance). Frequently both destruction of the cells producing insulin and insulin resistance is present. People with Type 2 diabetes can often manage their diabetes through proper exercise and nutrition. They may also take oral medications to boost the amount of insulin their body produces or improve how their bodies use insulin. However, as the disease progresses some people with Type 2 diabetes do need to take injections of insulin or use an insulin pump, adding to the small remaining amounts of insulin produced by their bodies.

Whilst there is no single cause of Type 2 diabetes, there are well known risk factors such as, family history, age (risk increases as we get older), obesity, inactivity and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome.

It occurs more in mature adults, though it is also occurring in younger people and children and accounts for 85-90 percent of diabetes in Australia.

Gestational Diabetes

Gestational diabetes is a condition in women who don’t have the common form of diabetes, but for some reason can’t metabolise sugar normally during their pregnancy. Genetic factors or preexisting and unrecognized diabetes may be the cause. It could be due to the hormones made during pregnancy blocking the action of the mothers insulin (i.e. insulin resistance). Gestational diabetes usually disappears after pregnancy, though these women do have an increased risk of developing Type 2 diabetes later in life. They can usually be maintained by diet; however some may need insulin injections or an insulin pump.

Gestational diabetes occurs in 3-8 percent of all pregnant women and those most at risk include women over 30 years who have a family history of Type 2 diabetes and are overweight.