Diabetes is a condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body is unable to use it properly. This is because the body's method of converting glucose into energy is not working as it should. There are two common forms of diabetes:

• TYPE 1, also known as insulin dependent diabetes. This usually affects children and young adults. People with this type of diabetes require daily insulin injections.
• TYPE 2, also known as non-insulin dependent diabetes, is by far the most common and usually affects people over the age of 40 years.