To understand the disease, we must first understand the part that insulin plays in our body. When we consume glucose, fructose or carbohydrates, our body converts them into glucose within the blood stream. For us to be able to utilise the glucose for energy, our pancreas produces insulin which 'unlocks' receptors in our cells and allows the glucose to enter the cells and be used for energy.

Type 1 diabetes is characterised by the failure of the body to produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels correctly. It is often called insulin dependant diabetes or juvenile diabetes, and it is usually found in people under 30 years of age.

The symptoms come on quite suddenly and is recognised by excessive thirst caused by an excess of glucose in the blood stream. This also results in excessive urination, another symptom. It is a chronic condition ? that is, it is a lifelong illness. It seems that the pancreatic cells that create the insulin might have been damaged or destroyed by the body's own immune system.

Type 1 diabetics make up around 5-10% of diabetes sufferers and it is controlled by introducing insulin either by injection or by a drip feed. A missed dose of insulin for a Type 1 diabetic can cause serious problems including loss of consciousness and they are also at serious risk of contracting further complications in later life.

A recent technological breakthrough has created a new treatment involving the transplantation of islet cells, and although the patient has to take drugs to stop the body rejecting the cells, the newly introduced cells are capable of producing insulin and trial patients have reported significantly reduced need for insulin injection. It is hoped that the injections may one day be completely eliminated through the use of islet cell transplants.

Type 1 diabetics are prone over time to be affected by micro-vascular disorders, sight problems, vascular disorders and kidney problems due largely to deterioration in their blood vessels.

Type 2 diabetes applies to the vast majority of diabetes cases. Patients with type 2 diabetes can manufacture insulin, but their cell receptors have become resistant to the chemical. Their body must therefore produce more and more insulin in order to 'unlock' the cells so that they can extract the glucose from the blood stream. Eventually, these patients get to the point where they cannot produce enough insulin to reduce the sugar levels in their body.

The disease affects 15-20% of people over the age of 60. A substantial number of adults have the disease but are undiagnosed. It is normally diagnosed during a physical check-up following complaints of problems such as skin, urinary or chest infections.

Type 2 diabetes can be managed through diet control and weight reduction or with prescription drugs. Although there is an inherited predisposition to the disease in a high number of cases, it is brought about by being overweight, not taking sufficient exercise and eating too much food high in high glycaemic index carbohydrates (white rice, white bread, sugar and fruit).Weight management, exercise and an eating regime low in fructose, sugars and processed carbohydrates are recognised as important techniques when trying to avoid the disease.

More alarming is the recent trend of children being found suffering from Type 2 diabetes. This is thought to be due to the prevalence of overweight children, together with the lack of exercise that overweight children take and the diet they follow that is high in sugar and carbohydrates with a high glycaemic index.

Gestational diabetes affects around 4% of women during their pregnancy. Most of them recover from this form of the illness after giving birth, but it does seem to indicate a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes in later life.

The most recognisable sign of diabetes is constant thirst and frequent urination. Other symptoms include unexplained weight loss, itching, dizziness, constant fatigue and pain in the legs whilst walking.

If diabetes just involved taking insulin for the remainder of your life, it wouldn't be such a worrying problem. Sadly, people suffering from diabetes have a number of increased risks including:

- double the rate of heart disease compared to non-sufferers

- five times the risk of having a stroke

- the most frequent cause of limb amputations outside of accidents

- blindness; of the new cases of blindness in people from age 24 to 74, diabetes is the most likely cause

- the leading cause of end-stage renal disease and over one third of new kidney diseases.

Consistent and accurate management of blood sugar levels reduces the odds of any of the above occurring.