Gestational Diabetes – diabetes that develops during pregnancy.

Glucose – the body’s primary energy source; a simple sugar.

Hyperglycaemia – high blood glucose level; above 7 mmol/L.

Hypoglycaemia – low blood glucose level; below 4 mmol/L.

Insulin – a hormone produced by the pancreas that lowers blood glucose levels.

Pancreas – abdominal organ that lies behind the stomach, which produces insulin and some other hormones.

Type 1 Diabetes – the body can no longer produce insulin as the insulin producing cells in the pancreas have been destroyed.

Type 2 Diabetes – the body cells are resistant to the action of insulin.