Type 1 diabetes – is insulin dependent. The body attacks its own pancreas with antibodies and it doesn’t make insulin. This means that people have to inject insulin each day and also test blood sugar levels.

Type 2 diabetes – this is the most common and milder form. In this case, the pancreas does produce insulin but not enough or the cells are resistant to it. People who are obese are at particular risk of it. Type 2 needs to be controlled with good diet, weight and exercise, if it gets worse, insulin may need to be administered.