diabetes

• Insulin


  A hormone released by the pancreas when glucose levels in the bloodstream are too high, which binds to cells and tells them to absorb excess glucose and turn it into glycogen
• Insulin helps to bring glucose levels back down to normal
• Type 1 diabetes


  Occurs in childhood or teenage years, caused by the pancreas stopping or severely reducing insulin production, requiring insulin injections to regulate blood glucose levels
• Type 2 diabetes


  Generally happens to older people who have had unhealthy diets for a long time, caused by cells becoming resistant to insulin, requiring a healthy low-sugar diet and regular exercise as the main line of treatment
• Insulin injection for type 1 diabetes

  Inject insulin, normally into abdomen or thigh, after meals to bring down blood glucose levels, amount depends on food intake and exercise
• People with diabetes are encouraged to avoid too much sugary food and exercise regularly
• In type 2 diabetes, giving insulin as a treatment wouldn't help because the cells don't respond to it
• There are a few drugs that can be given for type 2 diabetes, but the main line of treatment is a healthy low-sugar diet and regular exercise