In this section you have learnt about how insulin acts as a messenger, telling the body to take up any extra glucose in the blood. This helps keep blood glucose levels in the right range and so helps prevent complications such as heart disease from developing when blood glucose levels are too high. Insulin also tells the body to store away the extra glucose for times when there is too little glucose.

You have also learnt about what diabetes is, especially the 2 main types, type 1 diabetes (no insulin produced) and type 2 diabetes (body does not respond properly to insulin).

You have been introduced to our 2 virtual patients who you will continue to meet as you take the rest of the units in this resource, to help your understanding of diabetes.

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