What Is Diabetes?

When your pancreas does not produce insulin, does not produce enough insulin or can’t use the insulin it does produce, your blood glucose levels rise causing Diabetes.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 2 Diabetes

Gestational Diabetes

TYPE 1 DIABETES
Used to be called: IDDM, Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, and Juvenile Onset Diabetes.
The pancreas no longer produces insulin, so daily injections are essential (dependent) for life.  Treatment also includes healthy eating and physical activity.
Up to 10% of New Zealanders with Diabetes have Type 1 Diabetes.
People with Type 1 Diabetes are usually underweight or of normal weight.
Cannot be prevented.

TYPE 2 DIABETES

Used to be called: NIDDM, Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, Mature Onset Diabetes, Adult Onset Diabetes, and Sugar Diabetes.

The pancreas does not produce enough insulin or is resistant to the insulin it does produce. Over time, insulin production reduces.  Treatment includes healthy eating, physical activity, sometimes tablet medication and/or insulin (not dependent but requiring).

Type 2 Diabetes is the most common type with up to 90% of New Zealanders with Diabetes having Type 2 Diabetes.

People with Type 2 Diabetes are usually (80-90%) overweight.

Can be prevented. Risk is reduced by weight control and regular physical activity.

GESTATIONAL DIABETES

Can develop between 24 and 48 weeks of pregnancy due to the stress (growing baby and hormones) on a woman’s body.

Usually goes away after the baby is born.

Have an increased risk of developing Type 2 Diabetes in later years.

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