Type 2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes, formerly called adult-onset or noninsulindependent diabetes, is the most common form of diabetes. People can develop type 2 diabetes at any age, even during childhood. This form of diabetes usually begins with insulin resistance, a condition in which fat, muscle, and liver cells do not use insulin properly. At first, the pancreas keeps up with the added demand by producing more insulin. In time, however, it loses the ability to secrete enough insulin in response to meals. People who are overweight and inactive are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. Treatment includes taking diabetes medicines, making wise food choices, exercising regularly, controlling blood pressure and cholesterol, and taking aspirin daily—for some.

What is Type 2 Diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is a common metabolic condition that develops when the body fails to produce enough insulin or when insulin fails to work properly, which is referred to as insulin resistance. Insulin is the hormone that stimulates cells to uptake glucose from the blood to use for energy.

Diabetes Mellitus Type 2 Pathophysiology

Type 2 Diabetes Symptoms

Type 2 Diabetes Diagnosis

Type 2 Diabetes Screening and Prevention

Type 2 Diabetes Treatment

Living With Type 2 Diabetes

Vitamin D and Type 2 Diabetes

Is a Plant-Based Diet Good for Type 2 Diabetes?

Are Low Carbohydrate Diets Good for Type 2 Diabetes?

What is Insulin Resistance?

Insulin Resistance Pathophysiology

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Latest Type 2 Diabetes News and Research

Insulin degradation uncovered as a new driver of resistance

Researchers reveal insulin resistance may be driven by insulin degradation during transit in the bloodstream, challenging the belief that cell defects are the primary cause.

22 Dec 2024

Eggs are back on the menu: Study finds no link to obesity with moderate intake

Frequent but moderate egg consumption, coupled with proper cooking methods, does not increase obesity risk and may even support healthy lipid metabolism.

19 Dec 2024

The role of phytochemicals in combating metabolic diseases

This editorial reviews the impact of phytochemicals on metabolic diseases, emphasizing their potential in reducing inflammation and improving health outcomes.

19 Dec 2024

Researchers investigate oxygen's effect on overactive cells in type 2 diabetes

Researchers from the University of Missouri are studying potential therapies to target specific cells linked to the development of cardiovascular and metabolic disorders like high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes.

18 Dec 2024

MS medications do not increase pregnancy risks, research shows

An analysis of over 3,700 pregnancies of women with multiple sclerosis indicates that the therapy doesn’t lead to increased risks of miscarriage, premature birth or serious birth defects.

18 Dec 2024

Understanding metformin's mechanism in reducing blood sugar

Millions of people take metformin, a Type 2 diabetes medication that lowers blood sugar. The "wonder drug" has also been shown to slow cancer growth, improve COVID outcomes and reduce inflammation. But until now, scientists have been unable to determine how, exactly, the drug works.

18 Dec 2024

Study finds racial and ethnic disparities in the use of obesity-management drugs

Asians, non-Hispanic Blacks and Hispanics were significantly less likely than whites to use obesity-management medications to lower their weight compared with whites, new research suggests.

18 Dec 2024

Knowing the risks, Americans still sip sugary beverages daily

Health knowledge about sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) does not significantly reduce high SSB consumption, which is driven more by taste, habits, and marketing.

17 Dec 2024

Genetic shifts in reproductive traits link to aging and health risks

This study explores the genetics of human reproductive traits, revealing links to aging, health outcomes, and longevity while highlighting the role of genetic factors in modern fertility shifts.

17 Dec 2024

Dual screening for liver fibrosis and retinopathy in type 2 diabetes

Retina scanning with vibration-controlled transient elastography could predict metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

17 Dec 2024

Danish studies find increased risk of optic nerve damage with diabetes medicine

Two independent studies from the University of Southern Denmark (SDU) show that patients with type 2 diabetes who are treated with the drug Ozempic have an increased risk of developing damage to the optic nerve of the eye, which can lead to severe and permanent loss of vision.

16 Dec 2024

Obesity prevalence and BMI decrease in the US for the first time in a decade

Obesity prevalence in the US decreased in 2023, with significant drops in the South, highlighting the impact of GLP-1RA medications on health trends.

16 Dec 2024

Revolutionizing MASLD treatment with GLP-1 receptor agonists

Researchers explore the therapeutic potential and clinical insights of GP1-RAs in the management of metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease.

16 Dec 2024

Genetic insights into reproductive health and longevity

Led by researchers from the University of Oxford's Leverhulme Centre for Demographic Science and the University of Iceland, the review explores how genetic variations can explain differences in reproductive health and longevity.

14 Dec 2024

Lifestyle medicine education empowers clinicians

Clinicians who completed an American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) course introducing the foundations of lifestyle medicine and food as medicine reported significant improvements in their knowledge and confidence, as well as increases in how often they practice lifestyle medicine with patients, a research study found.

13 Dec 2024

A novel approach to prevent severe liver disease in diabetes

New research from Karolinska Institutet in Sweden highlights the possibility of screening people with type 2 diabetes for liver damage at the same time as they undergo screening for eye disease. The study is published in Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology.

13 Dec 2024

Metabolomic biomarkers improve diabetes risk prediction accuracy

Researchers developed a novel diabetes risk score integrating traditional factors with metabolomic biomarkers, achieving improved prediction accuracy for 10-year type 2 diabetes risk.

12 Dec 2024

New study identifies potential target for treating diabetic cardiomyopathy

Some patients with diabetes develop a serious condition known as diabetic cardiomyopathy, which is slow and cannot be directly attributed to hypertension or other cardiovascular disorders.

12 Dec 2024

Patients couldn’t pay their utility bills. One hospital turned to solar power for help.

Anna Goldman, a primary care physician at Boston Medical Center, got tired of hearing that her patients couldn't afford the electricity needed to run breathing assistance machines, recharge wheelchairs, turn on air conditioning, or keep their refrigerators plugged in.

12 Dec 2024

Women with PCOS and obesity have smaller babies, study finds

Women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and obesity are at a higher risk of giving birth to smaller babies in terms of birth weight, length, and head circumference, according to a recent study conducted at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU).

10 Dec 2024