What is diabetes?

• Diabetes is a long-term disorder characterised by a raised level of glucose (or sugar) in the blood

Where does glucose come from?

• Glucose comes from food, particularly starchy and sugary foods (called carbohydrates)
  
  
• Digestion breaks down carbohydrates into glucose which is used by your body to give you energy

• Some foods provide glucose very quickly, e.g. jams, sweets and fruit juice
  
  
• Other foods provide glucose slowly, e.g. potatoes, bread and rice.

Why is my blood glucose level high?

• The pancreas (a gland in the body near your stomach) makes a hormone called insulin
  
  
• Insulin is very important - it helps glucose move from the blood stream into the parts of your body which need it to make energy
  
  
• When you have type 1 diabetes your body doesn't make any insulin   
  
  
• When you have type 2 or gestational diabetes your body doesn't make enough insulin and the insulin in your body doesn't work very well
  
  
• Without insulin, there will be too much sugar left in your blood (high blood glucose)
  
  
• Insulin acts as a key, unlocking the door to your cells to let the glucose in.

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