Type 1 diabetes was formerly known as insulin-dependent diabetes or juvenile diabetes and affects about 10% of the people with diabetes. Individuals with Type 1 diabetes are unable to make any insulin and must depend on insulin shots.

Type 2 diabetes was formerly called non-insulin dependent diabetes or adult onset diabetes. About 90 - 95% of people with diabetes have Type 2 diabetes. With Type 2 diabetes, either not enough insulin is made or the insulin that is made is not used well.

While diabetes itself can cause serious health problems, it is the complications or health problems that happen as a result of the diabetes that pose more of a threat to the well being of the person with diabetes. For all people with diabetes, the complications are very real. Diabetes reduces life expectancy greatly and people with diabetes are at a 300% increased risk of heart attack. In fact, over 60% of deaths in people with diabetes are due to heart disease. This is 2 to 4 times that of the non-diabetic population. Women with diabetes are at a much greater risk for heart disease than women without diabetes.

What Causes Diabetes?

Researchers are not yet sure why people get Type 1 diabetes. They are making some progress in finding the exact genetics and "triggers" (environmental factors) that make a person who is at risk, to develop Type 1 diabetes. As a result, there are no known ways to prevent getting Type 1 diabetes at this time.

Risk factors for Type 2 diabetes include older age, obesity, family history of diabetes, prior history of gestational diabetes, physical inactivity and race/ethnicity. People with an African, Hispanic, Aboriginal and Asian background have a greater risk. Some of these risk factors can not be changed but there is clear evidence that "making healthy choices" can reduce the number of people with Type 2 diabetes.