ype 2 diabetes, also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) or adult-

onset diabetes, is a chronic condition characterized by insulin resistance and relative insulin
deficiency. Unlike Type 1 diabetes, the body still produces insulin, but it either doesn't
produce enough or the body's cells don't respond effectively to insulin. This leads to elevated
levels of glucose in the blood.

Key Features of Type 2 Diabetes:

1. Insulin Resistance: The body's cells become resistant to the effects of insulin, which
means glucose is less effectively taken up from the blood.
2. Onset: Type 2 diabetes usually develops in adults over the age of 45, but it is
increasingly being diagnosed in younger individuals, including children and
adolescents, largely due to rising obesity rates.
3. Risk Factors: Factors that increase the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes include:
o Obesity
o Physical inactivity
o Poor diet
o Family history of diabetes
o Age (risk increases with age)
o Ethnicity (higher prevalence in certain ethnic groups)
o History of gestational diabetes
o Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)