33^rd European Diabetes Congress

Type 1 Diabetes & Type 2 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is a serious type of condition. It is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes. It's occasionally called "adolescent" diabetes, since Type 1 diabetes occurs more often in kids and young people. However, it can occur at any age. It is an autoimmune disease because the body’s immune system attacks its own pancreas and destroys its islet cells. These cells are responsible for producing insulin and maintaining the blood sugar levels in the body. Without insulin, the high sugars in the blood can damage eyes, nerves, heart, kidneys and other parts of the body.

Type 2 diabetes is a common condition that causes the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood to become too high. It can cause symptoms like excessive thirst, needing to pee a lot and tiredness. It can also increase your risk of getting serious problems with your eyes, heart and nerves. It's a lifelong condition that can affect your everyday life. You may need to change your diet, take medicines and have regular check-ups. It's caused by problems with a chemical in the body (hormone) called insulin. It's often linked to being overweight or inactive, or having a family history of type 2 diabetes.