Type 1 diabetes occurs when a person's body doesn't produce its own insulin, so insulin has to be injected on a daily basis. It most often affects children and young adults.
Type 2 diabetes occurs when the pancreas doesn't produce enough insulin, or the body isn't able to use the insulin it produces. It can affect people of any age, and 80% of those affected with Type 2 diabetes are overweight.
Both Type 1 and 2 diabetes have similar effects on the body, and are often treated in similar ways - through regular blood sugar testing, careful diet, frequent exercises and insulin or other medications.
Diabetes is one of the three fastest growing illnesses worldwide. There are currently around 190 Mio Type 1 patients worldwide, with a growth rate of 15% per year!