This paper showed that reducing vascular endothelial growth factor B (VEGFB) signalling improves type 2 diabetes by preventing the pathological deposition of lipids into tissues. Administration of a VEGFB-targeted antibody to diabetic mice enhanced glucose tolerance, improved β-cell function and ameliorated dyslipidaemia. In rats that were fed a high-fat diet, the antibody normalized insulin sensitivity and increased glucose uptake in skeletal muscle and the heart, suggesting that VEGFB antagonism — which targets the lipid-transporting properties of the endothelium — could be a novel therapeutic approach for type 2 diabetes.