Diabetes

Diabetes is a disease where the body does not produce enough, or does not respond to the hormone insulin. This affects the regulation of the amount of glucose in the blood.

There are two main type of diabetes:

  • Type I diabetes is caused by the body not producing enough insulin. This prevents the body's cells from using glucose properly. Type I diabetes is often diagnosed in childhood, and was previously known as 'juvenile diabetes'.
  • Type II diabetes is caused by the body failing to respond to insulin. This is termed 'insulin resistance' and is more common than type I diabetes. Type II diabetes can be caused by obesity and lack of exercise, and usually develops with age. It is a common side-effect of some antiretroviral drugs.
This content was checked for accuracy at the time it was written. It may have been superseded by more recent developments. NAM recommends checking whether this is the most current information when making decisions that may affect your health.