What is type 1 diabetes?

Type 1 diabetes causes the level of glucose (sugar) in your blood to become too high. It happens when your body cannot produce enough of a hormone called insulin, which controls blood glucose.

Managing type 1 diabetes can take time to get used to and, you need to take insulin every day to keep your blood glucose levels under control, but you can still do all the things you enjoy. Type 1 diabetes is not linked with age or being overweight – these things are linked with type 2 diabetes.

Liv and Carly from NHS Dorset discuss life with type 1 diabetes

Causes and risk factors of type 1 diabetes

The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is not known. Family history can increase your risk, as there are many genes linked to type 1 diabetes. Genes on their own don’t cause diabetes, because most people with type 1 don’t have a family history of it at all.

Scientists think things in our environment, like viruses, could trigger type 1 diabetes. They are doing research all the time to find out more.

Driving when on insulin

Having diabetes does not mean you need to give up driving, but you need to tell your insurance company that you have diabetes.

If you have been on insulin for more than three months, you have a legal responsibility to inform the DVLA.

Weight loss and diabetes

Weight is a sensitive issue for many people and getting to an ideal, healthy weight is easier said than done. But when you have diabetes, there are huge benefits to losing weight if you’re carrying extra weight.