Type 2 diabetes is a widespread disease that is of increasing incidence in Sweden. Since this means that these patients will be a more common patient category in Swedish health care, we found it of interest to study the lived experience of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. By gaining a better knowledge on this subject nurses can be able to provide a better care for these patients. The aim of the literature review is to describe the patient’s experience of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Only qualitative articles were included since we seeked to describe experiences. Five themes were found: emotional reactions, effects on daily living, a changed identity, information and education, and coping strategies. Our conclusion is that the experience of being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes varies greatly. A combination of various factors are believed to influence patients' reactions at the time of diagnosis; these are culture, socioeconomic belonging, cultural background and identity, and previous experience of the disease. It is important for nurses to see the individual at the time of the type 2 diabetes diagnosis, and not to expect a certain reaction from the patient, but to take into account the background of the person as well as his/her life situation.