What characterizes Type 2 diabetes?

Type 2 diabetes is primarily characterized by insulin resistance, which means that the body’s cells do not respond effectively to insulin. This resistance leads to elevated levels of glucose in the blood, as the pancreas struggles to produce enough insulin to compensate for the cells' lack of responsiveness. Unlike Type 1 diabetes, where there is an absolute deficiency of insulin due to the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells, Type 2 diabetes often develops gradually and is frequently associated with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle.

Individuals with Type 2 diabetes may not require insulin immediately, as the condition can often be managed initially with lifestyle changes and oral medications that improve insulin sensitivity or reduce blood sugar production by the liver. While insulin therapy may eventually become necessary for some individuals as the disease progresses, it is not an immediate requirement for everyone diagnosed with this type of diabetes.

The distinction from other options highlights important aspects of Type 2 diabetes: it is not exclusively dependent on insulin (as insulin-dependent diabetes implies), nor does it specifically develop in childhood (which is more typical for Type 1 diabetes). The primary defining feature remains the presence of insulin resistance, placing it at the core of the condition's pathology.