A form of diabetes characterized primarily by insulin resistance combined with progressive impairment of insulin secretion.
In type 2 diabetes, the body’s cells become less responsive to insulin, while the pancreas may eventually become unable to produce enough insulin to compensate. The resulting elevation in blood glucose can develop gradually and may initially cause few or no noticeable symptoms.
Risk is influenced by multiple factors, including genetics, age, body composition, physical inactivity, and environmental and metabolic factors. Type 2 diabetes can often be managed with lifestyle measures, medicines, and sometimes insulin.
QUICK FACT
Type 2 diabetes is not simply a disease of “eating too much sugar.” Its development involves genetics, insulin resistance, pancreatic function, and multiple environmental and metabolic factors.
COMMONLY CONFUSED WITH
- Type 1 diabetes: caused primarily by loss of insulin-producing beta cells and requires insulin replacement.
- Prediabetes: blood glucose is above the normal range but below the diagnostic threshold for diabetes.
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