There are two types of diabetes, type 1 and type 2.  These are diseases of the endocrine system that occurs when your blood glucose (blood sugar) is too high.  Too much glucose can cause health problems, such as heart disease, nerve damage, eye problems, and kidney disease.  Type 1 is more likely to strike in childhood, and type 2 often shows up after age 40.

The cause of type 1 diabetes is still unknown. In type 2 diabetes and pre-diabetes, the body’s cells become resistant to the action of insulin, and the pancreas cannot create enough insulin to compensate. Since the energy from the foods eaten can’t be absorbed by the cells to be used for energy, these sugars build up in the bloodstream.

Although type 2 diabetes generally tends to be more prevalent among those who are overweight, this is not always the case. There is still much that is unknown about both type 1 and type 2 diabetes.