Symptoms of type 2 diabetes often develop gradually over many years and so many people do not realise if they have the condition. Different people develop different combinations of symptoms. The symptoms below are a direct result of having too much glucose in the blood (hyperglycaemia) and not enough in the cells.

Over many years the high levels of glucose can also damage other parts of the body including

• Persistent or recurrent infections such as oral or genital thrush and urinary tract infections
• Cataracts and reduced vision leading to possible blindness
• Signs of microvascular complications such as foot ulcers or loss of sensation in the lower limbs
• Signs of macrovascular complications such as cardiovascular disease, including high blood pressure and fatty deposits in the eye lids