Type 1 diabetes mellitus, formerly known as juvenile diabetes or insulin-dependent diabetes, occurs when the pancreas stops producing the hormone insulin. Insulin tells the body’s cells to absorb the sugar known as glucose from the blood and to use it as fuel. Without it, cells starve for want of energy while blood sugar levels rise out of control.

Type 2 diabetes is a much more common type of the disease in which the cells of the body stop responding normally to the effects of insulin or the body produces some, but not enough, insulin.

The American Diabetes Association (ADA) estimates that 20.8 million Americans, or about 7% of the population, have diabetes, but the vast majority of these cases (90-95%) are of type 2 diabetes. Researchers estimate that more than 1 million Americans – and perhaps as many as 3 million – have type 1 diabetes, many of them children and young adults.

Having diabetes increases the risk of several serious diseases and other complications. While there is no cure for Type 1 diabetes, the condition can be managed through the use of insulin shots and dietary control and people with diabetes can live full, healthy lives.