Type 2 Diabetes

Cause

You can develop type 2 diabetes if:

• Your body does not respond properly to insulin, making it difficult for your cells to get sugar from the blood to make energy. This is called insulin resistance.
• Your pancreas does not make enough insulin.

Your weight, how much physical activity you get, and your family history all affect the way your body responds to insulin. If you are overweight, get little or no exercise, or have family members with diabetes, you have a greater chance of developing type 2 diabetes.

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Author:	Caroline Rea, RN, BS, MS	Last Updated: August 3, 2007
Medical Review:	Caroline S. Rhoads, MD - Internal Medicine Matthew I. Kim, MD - Endocrinology & Metabolism
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