Type 2 diabetes is referred to as a "metabolic" disorder. This is because it results from the body's inability to make enough insulin or properly use (metabolize) the insulin it does make. Type 2 diabetes used to be called non-insulin dependent (NIDDM) or adult onset diabetes.

Insulin is a hormone produced in the pancreas. The function of insulin is to help the body regulate the flow of blood sugar to the cells. Without insulin, blood sugar cannot "fuel" the cells and they will die.

Often type 2 diabetes can be controlled with weight loss, diet and exercise alone. However, some people may need oral medications or insulin shots to help the body produce more insulin and/or better use the insulin it is producing.

Type 2 diabetes is a chronic disease and currently has no cure. It is the most common form of diabetes, accounting for 90-95% of all diagnosed cases. Type 2 diabetes is nearing epidemic proportions in the United States, due to an increased number of older Americans and a greater prevalence of obesity and sedentary lifestyles.

The cause of type 2 diabetes is unknown. It is thought, however, that there may be a genetic factor which causes it to run in families. Although a person may inherit a tendency toward the disease, it usually takes another factor, such as obesity, for it to develop.

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