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.

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Latest Type 2 Diabetes News and Research

Combined GLP-1 and GLP-2 treatment appears safe but does not beat placebo for obesity

In a 12-week randomized phase IIa trial in adults with obesity, the dual GLP-1/GLP-2 receptor agonist dapiglutide was well tolerated but did not achieve statistically significant weight loss compared with placebo at 4 mg or 6 mg doses. Although the higher dose showed modest within-group weight reduction and improved HbA1c, unexpectedly substantial placebo-associated weight loss limited the observed treatment effect.

24 Feb 2026

Tirzepatide activates brown fat, boosting metabolism beyond appetite control

Tirzepatide is one of the drugs that has revolutionized the treatment of obesity and other conditions such as diabetes in recent years.

24 Feb 2026

Higher ultra-processed food intake aligns with greater binge eating risk in obesity study

Higher intake of ultra-processed foods in adults with obesity was associated with disordered eating symptoms, poorer diet quality, and lower protein intake. The cross-sectional findings suggest dietary processing level may influence eating behaviour patterns relevant to obesity management, though causality cannot be inferred.

23 Feb 2026

Researchers show red blood cells drive better glucose tolerance at high altitude

Chronic hypoxia improves glucose tolerance in mice through insulin-independent mechanisms, with red blood cells acting as a major systemic glucose sink. Increased erythrocyte production and altered glycolytic flux help reduce circulating glucose while supporting oxygen delivery to tissues.

22 Feb 2026

Mounjaro ingredient shows promise in lowering alcohol consumption

For the first time, researchers show that tirzepatide - the active ingredient in the diabetes and weight-loss drug Mounjaro - reduces alcohol intake as well as relapse-like behaviors in rats and mice.

20 Feb 2026

Cyborg transplants may advance cell-based therapies for diabetes

A new electronic implant system can help lab‑grown pancreatic cells mature and function properly, potentially providing a basis for novel, cell-based therapies for diabetes.

19 Feb 2026

Gut microbiome may shape response to GLP-1 drugs, new review suggests

This review examines how GLP-1 receptor agonists and the gut microbiome influence one another through bile acid signaling, short-chain fatty acids, and inflammatory pathways. It explores how microbial composition may shape treatment response and highlights the need for controlled human studies to enable microbiome-informed precision therapy.

19 Feb 2026

Gut bacteria patterns help predict insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes, study finds

Researchers used 16S rRNA sequencing and machine learning to identify gut microbiome patterns associated with insulin resistance severity in people with type 2 diabetes. XGBoost models showed that specific bacterial genera, including Bacteroides and Faecalibacterium, help distinguish individuals with higher insulin resistance from healthy controls.

19 Feb 2026

Monthly produce prescriptions do not improve blood sugar

Findings from a study on produce prescriptions show no significant improvement in blood sugar control, emphasizing the importance of addressing food insecurity.

19 Feb 2026

Intermittent calorie restriction proves as effective as daily calorie cuts for type 2 diabetes

A post-hoc analysis of two clinical trials compared continuous calorie restriction with early time-restricted eating in adults with type 2 diabetes and overweight or obesity over three months. Both approaches improved weight, body composition, and metabolic health, with no clear superiority except for lower dropout with intermittent restriction.

18 Feb 2026

How GLP-1 drugs affect the body beyond weight loss and glucose control

This review evaluates the safety profile of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists and related incretin therapies used for obesity and type 2 diabetes. It highlights common gastrointestinal effects, rare but debated risks, and areas where further long-term safety data are still needed.

18 Feb 2026

Lifestyle medicine practice linked to lower clinician burnout

Healthcare professionals report that treating patients with lifestyle medicine helps to reduce burnout by increasing professional satisfaction, meaning, and a sense of effectiveness at work, according to a new study published in BMC Health Services Research.

18 Feb 2026

Can GLP-1 drugs slow neurodegeneration? New review finds promising signals but limited clinical proof

This review examines how GLP-1 receptor agonists may influence neurodegenerative disease biology through metabolic, inflammatory, mitochondrial, and proteostasis pathways. Evidence from mechanistic, preclinical, and early clinical studies suggests potential neuroprotective effects, but definitive disease-modifying benefit remains unproven.

17 Feb 2026

Do cocoa flavanols influence heart and fatty liver risk factors?

A recent Nutrients review examined whether cocoa-rich dark chocolate influences cardiovascular and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease risk factors through antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and endothelial effects. Evidence suggests modest improvements in biomarkers, but most data come from short-term studies, so definitive clinical benefits remain unproven.

16 Feb 2026

Higher red meat intake links to greater diabetes odds in large US study

Higher intakes of total, processed, and unprocessed red meat were associated with greater odds of diabetes in a nationally representative sample of US adults. Statistical substitution models suggest replacing red meat with plant proteins, poultry, dairy, or whole grains may be linked to lower diabetes odds, though causality cannot be inferred.

15 Feb 2026

Role of food nutrients in reducing oxidative stress linked to micro- and nanoplastics

This narrative review examines how micro- and nanoplastics may contribute to oxidative stress, inflammation, and metabolic dysfunction, including potential links with diabetes. It highlights plant-derived nutrients that activate the Nrf2 pathway as a possible strategy to enhance cellular stress resilience, although most evidence remains preclinical.

15 Feb 2026