There are two main types of diabetes: Type 1 and Type 2. Type 2 Diabetes is the most common: 9 out of 10 people who have diabetes will have Type 2 Diabetes. It usually starts after the age of 40, but it can affect younger people as well. It is a condition that comes from both your genes and lifestyle.^1,2

Type 2 Diabetes tends to develop gradually (over weeks or months). This is because in Type 2 Diabetes you still make insulin (unlike in Type 1 Diabetes). If you have Type 2 Diabetes, this leads to high levels of glucose (sugar) in your blood.

Type 2 Diabetes can be caused by:

• The pancreas not making enough insulin to control blood sugar levels
• The cells in the body being less able to respond to insulin (called insulin resistance)
• or a combination of both

This results in high levels of glucose in your blood which can lead to long-term medical problems like heart disease, stroke, kidney disease, blindness and poor circulation in your limbs. If you have Type 2 Diabetes, it is important to keep your blood glucose levels as close to normal as possible and to have a healthy lifestyle, to reduce this risk.

Type 2 diabetes is considered a disease of the metabolism. Metabolism and the regulation of energy in the body is carried out by the liver, pancreas and fat, and is associated with the heart (the cardiovascular system) and the kidneys (the renal system). These three components together make up the Cardio-Renal-Metabolic system. The links between this system means that metabolic diseases, such as Type 2 Diabetes, are closely related to diseases of the heart and kidneys. For this reason, it is important that Type 2 Diabetes is treated holistically so that all aspects of the disease are managed.