A type of diabetes mellitus that develops because the body becomes resistant to the action of insulin. Early stages of this type of diabetes may be treated with changes in diet and exercise. Oral medications and/or insulin therapy are usually needed to treat type 2 diabetes. Type 2 diabetes used to be called “adult-onset diabetes” as it tends to develop later in life. However, the obesity epidemic has led to greater insulin resistance and consequently higher levels of type 2 diabetes in younger age groups, as well. Type 2 diabetes is the most common type of diabetes (~90-95% of persons with diabetes) and tends to run in families.
