What is Diabetes Mellitus?

Diabetes is a long-term (chronic) condition caused by too much glucose (sugar) in the blood.

There are 2 main types of Diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2, but we also monitor women with Gestational Diabetes, which can develop during pregnancy, and anyone with glucose levels close to the threshold for diabetes - called Pre-Diabetes. 

The word Diabetes comes from the Greek word for siphon (or to pass through) and the word Mellitus is Latin, meaning honeyed or sweet. This was because in ancient times Diabetes was diagnosed when too much sugar was passing through into the urine of those affected.

This is an autoimmune disease, where the body mistakenly destroys the insulin producing cells in the pancreas.

The less common type (10% of all Diabetics).

Insulin is a hormone that regulates blood sugar (glucose) levels and Type 1 diabetics need Insulin injections to control blood sugar levels.

This is generally diagnosed in childhood, adolescence and young adults. However it is now known to occur in older people.

Type 1 information from Diabetes UK

Type 1 information from NHS.uk

Type 2 diabetes is where your body cannot make enough insulin, or the insulin it makes does not work properly (insulin resistance).

The most common type (90% of all Diabetics).

Diagnosis occurs most frequently in mid to later life - but can occur in all ages. This can present with vague symptoms that can be difficult to identify (up to 25% of those with Type 2 diabetes don't know they have it).

Treatment may start with lifestyle changes and tablet medication but insulin injections may be necessary with time.

Type 2 information from Diabetes UK

Type 2 information from NHS.UK

Where blood sugars are higher than normal, but not high enough to be diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes.

Prediabetes doesn’t have any symptoms but people with it have a high risk of developing Type 2 diabetes.

Being at risk doesn’t mean you will definitely develop Type 2 diabetes but it's a great time to start making healthy changes to your lifestyle to reduce your risk of Type 2 diabetes.

Eating a healthy diet, being more active and losing weight are great ways of reducing your risk of diabetes.

For self help visit Prediabetes/Diabetes UK.

We also highly recommend registering for the NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme, as it has good results for those who complete it. It focuses on lifestyle and diet changes, rather than medication, and tackles a range of areas important for your health and wellbeing - not just blood sugar levels. 

Gestational diabetes is high blood sugar (glucose) that develops during pregnancy and usually disappears after giving birth.

It happens when your body cannot produce enough insulin – a hormone that helps control blood sugar levels – to meet your extra needs in pregnancy.

Blood sugar levels may be reduced by changing your diet and being more active if you can. Gentle activities such as walking, swimming and prenatal yoga can help reduce blood sugar. But tell your midwife or doctor before starting an activity you haven’t done before.

However, if these changes don't lower your blood sugar levels enough, you will need to take medicine as well. This may be tablets or insulin injections.

For more information, see the NHS page on Gestational Diabetes.