Description:

What is type 2 diabetes? - Type 2 diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a common condition that causes the level of sugar (glucose) in the blood to become too high.
It can cause symptoms like excessive thirst, needing to pee a lot and tiredness . It can also increase your risk of getting serious problems with your eyes, heart and nerves.
It's a lifelong condition that can affect your everyday life . You may need to change your diet, take medicines and have regular check-ups.
It's caused by problems with a chemical in the body (hormone) called insulin . It's often linked to being overweight or inactive, or having a family history of type 2 diabetes.

Page last reviewed: 18 August 2020
Next review due: 18 August 2023

Illness name: type 2 diabetes