Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high.

There are two main types of diabetes:

• Type 1 diabetes – where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin
• Type 2 diabetes – where the body doesn't produce enough insulin, or the body's cells don't react to insulin
• During pregnancy, some women have such high levels of blood glucose that their body is unable to produce enough insulin to absorb it all. This is known as gestational diabetes.

Online support for people with Type 1 diabetes

An online resource for people with a new diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes is available for help and advice.

The site provides links to practical help on injecting insulin and checking blood glucose levels, as well as useful advice around living with the condition.