Type 2 Diabetes

Diabetes is a long-term condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high. It is triggered by higher than normal glucose (blood sugar) levels. This is caused by the lack of insulin (type 1), or impaired insulin levels (type 2).

There are two main types of diabetes:

• Type 1: body is not able to make any insulin (hormone needed to control our blood sugar levels). The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is not clear, and there is no way to prevent it from developing.
• Type 2: body produces less insulin than it needs, or the body reacts differently to insulin, making it insulin resistant. This causes the body to produce too much insulin. Both of these can cause blood sugar levels to become too high.  

Obesity is a significant risk factor for type 2 diabetes. 

Some pregnant women suffer from what is called "Gestational Diabetes", as their bodies cannot produce enough insulin. It often goes away after the baby has been born but can cause problems during or after pregnancy. However, this can often be avoided if Gestational Diabetes is detected early and treatment is given if necessary.