Geriatric diabetes refers to the presence of type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus in adults aged 65 or older. As such, geriatric diabetes can either be an autoimmune condition, with type 1 diabetes, or a chronic impairment with insulin production and blood sugar regulation, with type 2 diabetes. Diabetes mellitus occurs in any individual when their average blood sugar levels are too high. With type 1 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells in the pancreas. Consequently, your body cannot produce enough insulin to regulate blood sugar levels. The exact cause of type 1 diabetes is unclear, although genetics and environmental factors, such as exposure to certain viruses, appear to play a role. Type 2 diabetes occurs when your fat, liver, and muscle cells develop insulin resistance, causing your pancreas to work harder to make insulin and regulate blood sugar levels. While both type 1 and type 2 diabetes can occur in children and younger adults, older adults are at a particularly increased risk of developing diabetes. With that being said, it is much more common for older adults to develop type 2 diabetes, as type 1 diabetes is usually a life-long condition that develops in childhood.