Type II Diabetes I: Introduction

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by two main defects: insulin resistance, where tissues respond poorly to insulin, and progressive beta cell dysfunction, where the pancreas fails to secrete enough insulin to maintain normal glucose levels, resulting in hyperglycemia.

It develops through a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental triggers.

Epigenetic changes also contribute to impaired metabolic regulation, influencing the expression of genes such as FTO and TCF7L2.

Environmental factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and an unhealthy diet increase inflammation and oxidative stress, which worsen insulin resistance.

Gene–environment interactions further raise the risk.

For example, individuals with KCNQ1 variants may have a higher risk of diabetes when they are exposed to high-fat diets.

Risk factors such as advanced age, family history, ethnicity, central obesity, hypertension, and gestational diabetes increase the likelihood of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus.