Insulin therefore is like a key which opens the door to let glucose into the cells. If there is too little or no insulin, there are too few or no keys, so glucose builds up in the blood. This type of diabetes is often called Type 1 or Juvenile Onset Diabetes. It usually occurs in people below the age of 30 years but can occur at any age. With IDDM, the pancreas produces no insulin because the cells which make it have been destroyed by the white cells of the body.
People therefore require insulin injections to control their blood glucose levels.
This type is often called Type 2 or Mature Onset Diabetes. It usually occurs in people who are over the age of 40 years and especially if they are overweight, although there are some exceptions. Being overweight makes insulin less efficient at controlling blood glucose levels. This is often referred to as insulin resistance. Click here to view this summary This summary has been published on the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Clearinghouse Website with the kind permission of the authors and has been prepared by P. Lee, V. Rose, E. Harris and M. Bonney.