Could my child develop diabetes if nobody else in our family has it?

Sorry, but the answer is Yes. The causes of Type 1 diabetes are not entirely known, but it begins when your pancreas stops making insulin, usually as a result of some sort of infection -- ninety percent of people with Type 1 diabetes have no relatives with the condition. People who are overweight or have other risk factors can develop Type 2 diabetes, but they tend to be over 40 years old.

But us there anything I can do to prevent it in the first place?

In many cases, yes. Research has shown that people follow a low-fat, low-calorie diet and do regular exercise will reduce their chances of developing diabetes – no matter how old they are.

What is this "insulin" that I have heard about in relation to diabetes?

Insulin is a hormone – a chemical messenger – that your body uses in order to extract sugar from your blood, and then to transfer it into your body's cells where it is converted into energy. If you don't have enough insulin then the sugar stays in your blood, you are not getting the energy you need, and your kidneys try to remove the excess sugar by weeing it out; and other complications start.

If you have Diabetes Insipidus you will have nothing to do with insulin.

Will I have to inject myself with insulin?

Your healthcare professional will talk to you about this but, briefly:

• Type 1: Yes. Your body doesn't make any insulin, so you will have to provide it artificially – usually by injections or an insulin pump.

• Type 2: Perhaps. Your body might be producing some insulin, but either not enough or your body cannot use it properly. Depending on how advanced your condition is, you may need to inject with insulin – about 40% Type 2s need insulin.

• Gestational: you may need to take medication, including insulin, to control your condition – but equally you may not.

• Diabetes Insipidus: no -- this type of diabetes has nothing whatsoever to do with insulin.

What is the cure for diabetes?

The bad news is that for Types 1 and 2 diabetes and most types of diabetes insipidus there is no cure – the current state of medical knowledge means that you have it for life. The good news is that with proper management (including carefully-managed diet, appropriate exercises, and medication is some cases) you can live a life that is hardly affected by your condition. The other good news is: some types of diabetes can disappear after a while, but this behaviour is limited to the gestational forms of diabetes you get when pregnant.

I think I might have diabetes; how can I test for it?

You should see your doctor as soon as possible. There are home kits you could use, but the most accurate method is to arrange for a proper test with your doctor. It's a simple, accurate test if you do it properly, and doctor can do it properly for an accurate diagnosis. Anyone over 45 years old should have the test even if they don't seem to be having any of the symptoms – many people with Type 2 diabetes don't show any symptoms for months or even years – and the damage to your blood vessels and nervous system is already being done.