Types of Diabetes

An autoimmune condition whereby the body's immune system attacks and destroys the beta cells of the pancreas, making it unable to produce insulin.

Type 1 diabetes is not caused by diet and lifestyle.

While it typically develops in children or early adulthood, it can also happen to people of other ages.

It's the most common form of diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes usually occurs when the body's cells do not respond well or are resistant to the body's own insulin.

It is commonly associated with being overweight and having excessive body fat (under the skin and around the internal organs).

Typically, it develops in older adults (risk increases for those above 40 years).

Some women develop higher blood sugar levels during pregnancy, which usually normalise after delivery.

Gestational diabetes increases your risk of developing diabetes later on in life.
(Find out more about Gestational Diabetes)

Pre-diabetes is when your blood sugar levels are higher than normal but not high enough to be diagnosed with diabetes.

Having pre-diabetes puts you at an increased risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Making lifestyle changes, such as healthy eating, can delay the progression to diabetes or reverse pre-diabetes.

People with pre-diabetes usually have no symptoms. The only way to diagnose if you have pre-diabetes is through blood tests.