Noninsulin-dependent diabetes.
(Formerly called noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus or adultonset diabetes), the disorder is characterized by high blood glucose in the context of insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency in which insulin is available but cannot be properly utilized.
The type of diabetes mellitus in which cells throughout the body lose some or most of their ability to use insulin. It is more likely to develop in people who are over 40, who are overweight or obese, and who do not exercise regularly. It can be controlled in some cases with diet and exercise, but more severe cases may need oral medication which reduces glucose concentrations in the blood, or insulin injections, so that even cells with a poor uptake will capture enough insulin.
A disease characterized by resistance to the effects of insulin, resulting in poor glucose utilization and a variety of symptoms, signs, and complications. Obesity is the leading cause of type 2 diabetes, and weight loss an effective treatment.
Diabetes is a collection of diseases that takes on different forms. All forms of diabetes involve the hormone insulin. Diabetes mellitus (diabetes means “to siphon,” and mellitus means “honey”) results either when the body does not produce enough insulin or when an excess of insulin is present. The latter is known as Type II diabetes, or noninsulin-dependent diabetes.
The more common of the two main groups of conditions characterized by an abnormally high glucose (sugar) level in the blood; formerly known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes or adult-onset diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, which accounts for 90 to 95 percent of all people with diabetes, is characterized by insulin resistance that causes interference with the ability of the body to metabolize glucose (sugar) for energy, leading to above normal levels of glucose in the blood. Many people with type 2 diabetes do not require daily insulin therapy. Although type 2 diabetes usually begins in adults older than 40 years and is most common in people older than 55 years, it is becoming increasingly common in younger people.