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

See more featured articles »

Causes of Insulin Resistance

Insulin Resistance Treatment

Insulin Resistance Diagnosis

Insulin Resistance Symptoms

Insulin Resistance and Parkinson's Disease

Does the Keto Diet Increase the Risk of Diabetes?

The Risks of Prediabetes

What is Diabetes?

Fibromyalgia and Diabetes

Diabetes in Men versus Women

Insulin Medication

Latest Type 2 Diabetes News and Research

Rare sugars curb appetite and mimic diabetes drugs in mice

Rare sugars like D-allulose, D-tagatose, and D-sorbose significantly boosted GLP-1 secretion and suppressed food intake in mice. D-allose also reduced food intake through a unique, GLP-1-independent pathway.

1 Apr 2025

NYC and Baltimore scientists awarded grants for cardiovascular and diabetes research

A New York City-based physician scientist who explores ways to improve health by looking at the ways in which cells and molecules impact disease and an epidemiologist from Baltimore who has devoted her career to identifying ways to improve screening, diagnosis and patient care for people with diabetes are the most recent American Heart Association Merit Award recipients.

1 Apr 2025

UVA Health experts highlight a growing array of treatment options for type 2 diabetes

Nearly 40% of patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes imperil their health by stopping their medication within the first year, UVA Health diabetes experts note in a new paper highlighting a growing array of treatment options.

1 Apr 2025

Novo Nordisk A/S: Rybelsus® (oral semaglutide 14 mg) demonstrates superior reduction in cardiovascular events in the SOUL trial at ACC 2025

Novo Nordisk today presented the full results from the SOUL cardiovascular outcomes trial, demonstrating that Rybelsus® (oral semaglutide) significantly reduced the risk of major adverse cardiovascular events in adults with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease (CVD) and/or chronic kidney disease (CKD).

1 Apr 2025

Tirzepatide improves kidney, cardiovascular function in patients with obesity and HFpEF

The drug tirzepatide improved kidney function and cardiovascular outcomes among patients with obesity and heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) compared with placebo at one year, according to featured clinical research presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session (ACC.25) and simultaneously published in JACC.

31 Mar 2025

FAME-3 study reveals similar outcomes for CABG and PCI in severe triple-vessel heart disease

In sharp contrast to earlier studies, patients with severe triple-vessel heart disease fared equally well whether they underwent open-heart bypass surgery (CABG) or a less invasive procedure called PCI (percutaneous coronary intervention) at five years of follow-up, according to research presented at the American College of Cardiology's Annual Scientific Session.

31 Mar 2025

New trial shows oral semaglutide reduces cardiovascular events in diabetes patients

Both the injectable and oral forms of semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist, have gained recent attention for their effectiveness against weight gain, high blood sugar, and even alcohol cravings.

31 Mar 2025

Eating ultra-processed food daily increases depression risk in older adults

Eating four or more servings of ultra-processed food daily increases the risk of depression by 10% in older adults and modestly reduces their mental health-related quality of life.

30 Mar 2025

Semaglutide improves maximal walking distance in people with symptomatic PAD and Type 2 diabetes

Semaglutide, a glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonist, significantly improved maximal walking distance in people with symptomatic peripheral artery disease (PAD) and Type 2 diabetes in the first-of-its kind trial to evaluate the use of a GLP-1 agonist to manage PAD.

29 Mar 2025

High blood pressure can lead to structural changes in the kidneys

A research team from the Medical University of Vienna has investigated structural changes in kidneys of patients with hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

27 Mar 2025

Wearable technologies may improve exercise adherence in people with Type 2 Diabetes

Wearable mobile health technology could help people with Type 2 Diabetes (T2D) to stick to exercise regimes that help them to keep the condition under control, a new study reveals.

26 Mar 2025

Pass the (iodized) salt: Iodine deficiency drives frailty risk in people with diabetes

Lower iodine levels and use of non-iodized salt are linked to a higher risk of frailty in people with type 2 diabetes. This association is strongest in those with thyroid dysfunction, underscoring the importance of adequate iodine intake.

26 Mar 2025

Flavonoids help regulate gut hormones and show promise in managing type 2 diabetes

Flavonoids show promise in treating type 2 diabetes mellitus by targeting the enteroendocrine system and regulating key gut hormones. They enhance insulin sensitivity, reduce oxidative stress, and influence appetite, glucose uptake, and hormone secretion.

26 Mar 2025

Scientists link emulsifiers in processed foods to allergy and immune disorders

Review identifies common food additives in ultra-processed foods—particularly emulsifiers like carrageenan and polysorbate 80—as key drivers of gut dysbiosis, inflammation, and allergic diseases by disrupting intestinal barriers and activating proinflammatory pathways.

26 Mar 2025

Addressing cardiovascular risk factors in emerging adulthood

Many teenagers enter adulthood with significant risk factors for cardiovascular disease, and the transition from adolescence to adulthood is a key time to address these risk factors and reduce the risk of developing future cardiovascular disease, according to a new American Heart Association scientific statement published today in the Journal of the American Heart Association.

26 Mar 2025

Early antibiotic exposure may boost risk of diabetes later in life

Exposure to antibiotics during a key developmental window in infancy can stunt the growth of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas and may boost risk of diabetes later in life, new research in mice suggests.

25 Mar 2025

Anti-inflammatory drugs may reduce metabolic disease risk by inhibiting the sweet taste receptor

Past studies have shown that the human sweet taste receptor conveys sweet perception in the mouth and may help regulate glucose metabolism throughout the body.

25 Mar 2025

The best diet for aging well, backed by a 30-year study of 100,000 people

A 30-year study of over 100,000 U.S. adults found that consistent adherence to healthy dietary patterns, especially the AHEI, was strongly linked to successful aging. Diets rich in plant-based foods and healthy fats, with some low-fat animal products, improved physical, mental, and cognitive health.

25 Mar 2025

Study links type 2 diabetes to weakened reward signals in the brain

The high comorbidity of type 2 diabetes (T2D) with psychiatric or neurodegenerative disorders points to a need for understanding what links these diseases.

24 Mar 2025

Long-term inhaled corticosteroids linked to increased health risks in COPD patients

Inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are commonly prescribed for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but not recommended as first-line treatment unless patients have asthma/COPD overlap or frequent exacerbations.

24 Mar 2025