Type 2 diabetes is a health epidemic with more than 100 million Americans diagnosed with either type 2 diabetes or pre-diabetes. Type 2 diabetes, unlike type 1, initially begins as an insensitivity or resistance to insulin. In the early stages, the beta cells of the pancreas respond by increasing the secretion of insulin, leading to hyperinsulinemia. This will usually progress to decreased endogenous insulin production over time, requiring exogenous insulin therapy. While the details are still unclear, there are genetic determinants of the disease, though no single gene has been identified. Very often, those with type 2 diabetes will also have obesity, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia or metabolic syndrome.

See Diabetes Mellitus and Drug Treatment of Diabetes Mellitus in The Manuals.

References

Hsia DS, Grove O, Cefalu WT. An update on sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. Curr Opin Endocrinol Diabetes Obes. 2017;24(1):73–79. doi:10.1097/MED.0000000000000311

Whalen K, Miller S, St Onge E. The role of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Clin Ther. 2015 Jun 1;37(6):1150-66. doi: 10.1016/j.clinthera.2015.03.004. Epub 2015 Apr 16.

Back