Type 1 diabetes can occur at any age, but is usually first diagnosed during childhood, adolescence or young adulthood. In children, the most common ages to be diagnosed with type 1 diabetes are at 10-12 years and 2-3 years. However children of any age (including babies), who have the genetic risk as well as an environmental trigger can develop type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes happens when the body’s pancreas stops making insulin, an important hormone that controls blood glucose (sugar) levels. When the body stops making insulin, blood glucose levels (BGLs) start to rise. To manage type 1 diabetes, insulin injections are needed to take the place of the body’s own insulin balanced with food and exercise.
Type 2 diabetes happens when either the pancreas doesn’t make enough insulin or the insulin doesn’t work very well. This type of diabetes usually occurs in older people, however is now being seen in younger people. People with type 2 diabetes need to watch what they eat, be active every day and sometimes take diabetes tablets or insulin injections.
Type 2 diabetes used to occur only in people age over 40 , however, we're now seeing it in children as young as 10 or 11years. It is usually associated with overweight and obesity and can run in families.