Adult-onset diabetes
| Diabetes mellitus type 2 | |
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| Synonyms | Noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), adult-onset diabetes |
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| Universal blue circle symbol for diabetes | |
| Pronunciation | |
| Specialty | Endocrinology |
| Symptoms | Increased thirst, frequent urination, unexplained weight loss, increased hunger |
| Complications | Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state, diabetic ketoacidosis, heart disease, strokes, diabetic retinopathy, kidney failure, amputations |
| Usual onset | Middle or older age |
| Duration | Long term |
| Causes | Obesity, lack of exercise, genetics |
| Diagnostic method | Blood test |
| Prevention | Maintaining normal weight, exercising, eating properly |
| Treatment | Dietary changes, metformin, insulin, bariatric surgery |
| Prognosis | 10 year shorter life expectancy |
| Frequency | 392 million (2015) |
| Classification | |
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| External resources |
Diabetes mellitus type 2 (also known as type 2 diabetes) is a long-term metabolic disorder that is characterized by high blood sugar, insulin resistance, and relative lack of insulin. Common symptoms include increased thirst, frequent urination, and unexplained weight loss. Symptoms may also include increased hunger, feeling tired, and sores that do not heal. Often symptoms come on slowly. Long-term complications from high blood sugar include heart disease, strokes, diabetic retinopathy which can result in blindness, kidney failure, and poor blood flow in the limbs which may lead to amputations. The sudden onset of hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state may occur; however, ketoacidosis is uncommon.
Type 2 diabetes primarily occurs as a result of obesity and lack of exercise. Some people are more genetically at risk than others. Type 2 diabetes makes up about 90% of cases of diabetes, with the other 10% due primarily to diabetes mellitus type 1 and gestational diabetes. In diabetes mellitus type 1 there is a lower total level of insulin to control blood glucose, due to an autoimmune induced loss of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. Diagnosis of diabetes is by blood tests such as fasting plasma glucose, oral glucose tolerance test, or glycated hemoglobin (A1C).
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