Diabetes is a condition that is characterised by an above normal level of glucose (sugar) in the blood. This is because the pancreas does not make enough insulin or insulin becomes ineffective.

 

Although the above classification describes many types of diabetes mellitus, the two main forms are types 1 and 2.

 

Type 1 diabetes is an auto-immune condition where the pancreas is attacked by auto-antibodies causing it to fail.

 

This necessitates treatment with insulin.

 

Type 2 is associated with decreasing levels of activity and an increasing prevalence of obesity. It is mainly brought on by an unhealthy, inactive lifestyle and weight gain. In this type of diabetes, there is insulin in the body, but the body becomes resistant to it so the insulin becomes largely ineffective.

 

In recent years, we have seen a (rapid) rise in type 2 diabetes across all age groups. Indeed, a sedentary lifestyle and bad eating habits are cited as the main causes of the increasing prevalence of type 2 diabetes in the UAE.

 

Worldwide, at least 85-95 per cent of patients with diabetes have type 2 (even higher in developing countries; International Diabetes Federation 2010), and the main differences between type 1 and type 2 are listed in Table 1, below.

 

 

Obesity in children is known to increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease in adulthood.

 

 

Table: Main differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus