Diabetes is a lifelong condition that causes a person's blood sugar level to be too high. There are two main types of diabetes: type 1 and type 2. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay Type 1 is where the body's immune system attacks and destroys the cells that produce insulin, while type 2 is where the body does not produce enough insulin. The amount of sugar in the blood is controlled by a hormone called insulin, produced by the pancreas. As food is digested and enters the bloodstream, insulin moves glucose from the blood into cells, where it is broken down for energy. However, if you have diabetes, your body is unable to break down glucose into energy. This is because there is not enough insulin to move the glucose or the insulin produced does not work properly. While you can't make lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes is often linked to being overweight. People diagnosed with type 1 diabetes also require regular insulin injections for the rest of their lives. Because type 2 diabetes is a progressive condition, medications may eventually be needed, usually in the form of tablets. The following tests are used to diagnose diabetes: Please note: This is just a sample. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay A fasting blood sugar test measures your blood sugar after you have gone at least 8 hours without eating. An oral glucose tolerance test measures your blood sugar level after you have gone at least eight hours without eating and two hours after drinking a glucose-containing beverage. With a random plasma glucose test, your doctor checks your blood sugar level regardless of when you ate your last meal. This test, along with an assessment of symptoms, positive test results should be confirmed by repeating the fasting blood glucose test or oral glucose tolerance test on a different day. This blood test, along with other information and test results, can help determine whether a person has type 1 diabetes and not another type. the health service arrived with the distribution of over 3.5 million prescriptions. Scottish prescribing data showed the cost of dispensing diabetes medicines was £88.97 million in 2015/2016. The causes of both types of diabetes are numerous, and experts have repeatedly warned that many people would avoid the disease by eating healthier and being more active. Currently over 3 million people in the UK suffer from diabetes, the majority of which are type 2. The global rate of diabetes is predicted to increase to 552 million by 2030. World Diabetes Day is observed on 14 November of each year..