The symptoms of the onset of diabetes include:

• Continually feeling very thirsty
• Frequent urination, particularly at night
• Extreme tiredness
• Unexpected and unexplained weight loss (type 1 only)

The consequences of diabetes can be very serious. However, with good medical care and medication it can be controlled safely, allowing sufferers to lead a normal life. 

Patients must monitor blood sugar levels and take regular injections of insulin in order to avoid the harmful effects of diabetes. High blood sugar levels can cause damage to the veins and arteries. 

Over time this damage can restrict the blood supply to the limbs and affect the heart and other internal organs as well as the eyes leading to serious problems, including: 

• Heart disease
• Limb amputations
• Blindness and vision problems
• Memory problems

In addition, because people with diabetes rely on medication to maintain their blood sugar at a healthy level any mistakes made with the administration of insulin could cause levels to drop to an unsafe point. This can cause hypoglycaemia (very low blood sugar), which can lead to the sufferer falling into a diabetic coma if not treated promptly. Hypoglycaemia can also cause brain damage and is potentially fatal if not treated with extreme urgency. 

Diabetes is a serious condition that needs to be carefully managed and controlled with medication and good care. However, being aware of the early warning signs and symptoms of diabetes can help you get a head start on seeking the help you need. Find out more about these warning signs in our video 'How much do you know about diabetes?'. 

Type 1 diabetes is a lifelong condition of the immune system. The immune system exists to protect us from disease or infection but with 'autoimmune conditions', such as diabetes, the system mistakenly attacks healthy cells. 

In the case of type 1 diabetes, the system attacks cells in the pancreas (responsible for producing insulin to process blood sugar) causing damage or even destruction of those cells. This in turn means that the pancreas cannot produce insulin leading to excess sugar in the blood. 

Although researchers have yet to determine what causes type 1 diabetes, in many cases it is thought to be hereditary and those with a close family member with the condition are at greater risk. 

Far more people are affected by type 2 diabetes - which is caused by lifestyle factors - than type 1 diabetes. With type 2 diabetes, consistent overeating and high levels of sugar associated with obesity cause the pancreas to release high amounts of insulin regularly. Over time the body becomes resistant to the insulin and it stops working as effectively to process sugar, or not at all. This causes blood sugar levels to reach the dangerous levels associated with diabetes. 

The disease is often associated with obesity and people who are overweight. However there are many more reasons why people may be at risk of type 2 diabetes. We explore the various reasons why some people may be more susceptible to the condition, including their family history, ethnicity and age, in our infographic ‘Who is at risk of type 2 diabetes?’.

Gestational diabetes affects women during pregnancy when unusually high levels of glucose are developed within the blood. The amount of glucose in the blood is usually controlled by insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas, but during pregnancy your body becomes more resistant to the hormone so that the extra glucose and other nutrients are able to pass to the unborn baby and help it grow. 

To counter this the body should produce more insulin but sometimes women cannot produce the amount of insulin required to ensure the glucose is transported to the body's cells. This is called gestational diabetes. 

You are at increased risk of gestational diabetes if you: 

• Are overweight
• Are of South Asian or African descent
• Are over 25 years of age
• Have a parent with type 2 diabetes
• Suffer from prediabetes
• Have previously given birth to a large baby

Gestational diabetes brings with it a number of signs and symptoms including:

• Fatigue
• Blurred vision
• Increased thirst
• A dry mouth
• Recurring infections
• Needing to urinate frequently 

According to the NHS, every pregnant woman with one or more risk factors should be offered a screening test for gestational diabetes at their first antenatal appointment. 

In addition, a glucose tolerance test (GTT) should take place between weeks 24 and 28 of pregnancy to see how your body is dealing with the heightened level of glucose.

If you were not offered these tests and developed gestational diabetes, or if you were offered the tests and you were misdiagnosed, you could be entitled to make a claim for compensation. 

If the condition is not treated appropriately or is misdiagnosed it could affect you and your baby causing complications that can include:

• Premature birth
• Miscarriage
• Stillbirth
• Low blood sugar and other health problems following birth
• Newborn jaundice
• Respiratory distress syndrome
• Increased chances of developing type 2 diabetes
• Macrosomia - your baby weighing more than 4kg
• Shoulder dystocia 

Our infographic explains the various factors that can make a woman more likely to develop the disease. These include their age, ethnicity and medical history. View the infographic here.