Diabetes is a common condition in which the amount of glucose (sugar) in the blood is too high because the body is unable to use it properly. Normally, the pancreas produces insulin, which controls the levels of glucose in the blood. Diabetes occurs when the body does not produce enough insulin, or produces insulin but cannot use it properly.

Type 2 diabetes (also called non-insulin-dependent diabetes) develops when the body can still make some insulin, but not enough for its needs, or when the insulin that is produced does not work properly (known as insulin resistance). This type of diabetes usually appears in people over the age of 40, though it can appear in younger people.
It can be caused by a shock to a person's system. It is controlled by a balance of tablets (e.g metformin) and diet.