Diabetes

Diabetes is a condition where the amount of glucose in the blood is too high because the body is not able to use it properly. It occurs when the pancreas does not produce any insulin, or not enough, to help glucose enter the cells of the body, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly.

Diabetes is diagnosed by using a blood test to establish the amount of glucose, or sugar, in the blood.

There are two main types of diabetes: type I and type II. The most common form is type II. It is normally treated through diet, exercise and drugs. Type I diabetes more commonly occurs in young people and always requires treatment of insulin injections.

Blood testing can also monitor the effectiveness of treatment with drugs or insulin.