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  • 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. Many people have no symptoms.
  • It increases your risk of getting serious problems with your eyes, feet, heart and nerves.
  • It's a long-term 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: 22 December 2023
Next review due: 22 December 2026