About 5% to 10% of people with diabetes in the United States have type 1 diabetes. It happens when the pancreas makes little or no insulin. In type 1 diabetes, the body’s germ-fighting system gets confused and attacks the cells in the pancreas that make insulin. This can happen slowly over months or years before a person notices any signs.

Type 1 diabetes is often diagnosed in children, teens, and young adults, but it can happen at any age. People with type 1 diabetes must take insulin every day.

About 38 million adults in the United States have diabetes, and most of them have type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes happens when the body does not make enough insulin or does not use insulin the right way. Insulin helps move sugar from the blood into the body’s cells, where it is used for energy.

Anyone can get type 2 diabetes. A person may have a higher chance of getting it if they:

• have overweight or obesity
• are older
• do not get much physical activity
• have family members with type 2 diabetes
• are Black, Asian American, Hispanic or Latino, or Native American

Having one or more of these risk factors does not mean a person will get type 2 diabetes.

Type 2 diabetes is linked to other long-term health conditions, including obesity and heart disease.

People with type 2 diabetes may have a higher chance of having a stroke, heart attack, or dying from heart disease. Eating healthy foods, staying active, and following a care plan may help lower these risks. With the right care and support from a diabetes healthcare team, people with type 2 diabetes can live full and active lives.