Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to become too high.
There are 2 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 does not produce enough insulin, or the body's cells do not react to insulin
You can find out more about diabetes from Diabetes UK and the NHS website.
If you think you have symptoms of diabetes, speak to your GP as soon as possible. You can find out more about the symptoms on the NHS website.
Changing your behaviour can help to prevent type 2 diabetes. You can reduce your risk by being more active and living a healthy lifestyle. The NHS Diabetes Prevention Programme helps people who are at high risk of type 2 diabetes to become healthier and avoid developing the condition.
New Life New You - BME is a project which helps reduce the risk of type 2 diabetes in the Black and minority ethnic (BME) population in Middlesbrough. The 8-week programme of physical activity and diet advice reduces your risk of type 2 diabetes, and helps you to live a healthier and more active lifestyle.
You can still live a healthy and full life with diabetes if you pay attention to your diet and lifestyle. Diabetes UK has more information about living with diabetes.