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 the body's cells becoming resistant to insulin, requiring a healthy low-sugar diet and regular exercise as the main treatment
• Insulin injection for type 1 diabetes

  Inject insulin, normally into the abdomen or thigh, after meals to bring down blood glucose levels, with the amount depending on what was eaten and how much exercise is done
• 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 are resistant 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