The Diabetes mellitus type 2 reference article from the English Wikipedia on 24-Apr-2004 (provided by Fixed Reference: snapshots of Wikipedia from wikipedia.org)

Diabetes mellitus type 2

See diabetes mellitus for further general information on diabetes.

Diabetes mellitus type 2 (formerly Diabetes mellitus type II and also known as non-insulin-dependent diabetes, NIDDM or adult-onset diabetes) is a metabolic disorder.

The onset of the disease is commonest in middle age and later life. It can usually be controlled by diet and exercise, and unlike diabetes mellitus type 1 (juvenile diabetes) it often does not necessitate the use of insulin injections, because insulin production in the pancreas is still possible, although impaired.

The term non-insulin-dependent is a misnomer - some patients must start insulin therapy some time in the course of their disease.

Diabetes mellitus type 2 is often associated with obesity and hypertension, and with the conditions insulin resistance and PCOS or Syndrome X. It is also associated with haemochromatosis, acromegaly, Cushing's disease and a number of other endocrinological disorders.

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