Type 2 Diabetes: Recently Diagnosed

Cause

Type 2 diabetes develops when the following factors cause blood sugar (glucose) levels to rise:

  • Your body's tissues are not responding properly to insulin, making it more difficult for cells to get glucose from the blood to make energy. This is called insulin resistance.
  • Your pancreas is not producing enough insulin to overcome the insulin resistance. As diabetes progresses, your pancreas Click here to see an illustration. may produce less and less insulin.

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Author: Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS Last Updated: June 16, 2008
Medical Review: Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine
Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism

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