Type 2 diabetes
Type 2 diabetes is a metabolic disorder in which insulin resistance and progressive impairment of insulin secretion disrupt blood-glucose regulation.
Insulin resistance: A reduced response of cells to insulin, limiting insulin's effects on glucose uptake and metabolism. It is the defining early defect that makes ordinary insulin levels less effective.
Hemoglobin A1c: A blood test estimating average blood glucose over roughly the previous two to three months. It is commonly used to diagnose diabetes and monitor long-term glucose control.
Diabetic nephropathy: Kidney damage associated with diabetes, including albumin leakage and declining kidney function. Persistent hyperglycemia and vascular injury can progressively damage the kidneys.
Type 1 diabetes: An autoimmune disease in which pancreatic beta-cell destruction causes severe insulin deficiency. Unlike type 2 diabetes, its defining cause is autoimmune loss of beta cells.
Genetics of type 2 diabetes: The inherited influences on susceptibility to type 2 diabetes, involving many genetic variants. Genetic susceptibility helps explain why risk differs among people with similar environments.
Pancreatic beta cell: An insulin-producing cell in the pancreatic islets of Langerhans. Progressive failure of these cells limits compensation for insulin resistance.
Fasting plasma glucose test: A blood test measuring glucose after a period without caloric intake, usually overnight. It is one standard laboratory method for diagnosing diabetes.
Diabetic neuropathy: Nerve damage associated with diabetes, often causing numbness, pain, or altered sensation. Loss of sensation can lead to unnoticed injuries and foot ulcers.
Gestational diabetes: Glucose intolerance first recognized during pregnancy, usually arising from pregnancy-related insulin resistance. It occurs in pregnancy and may resolve afterward, though future type 2 risk rises.
Obesity: A chronic condition involving excess body fat that can impair health. Excess adiposity, especially around abdominal organs, can worsen insulin resistance.