But, according to the February Medical Essay, a supplement to Mayo Clinic Health Letter, you may be able to minimize your risk of developing serious complications by treating diabetes early. Improved methods of diabetes control and new medications may also help. In type 2 diabetes, your pancreas makes some insulin but not enough. Insulin is a hormone secreted by your pancreas. Glucose is your body's fuel.
Cells use it to produce energy to grow and function.
In type 2 diabetes, your cells can also become resistant to insulin's effects, keeping insulin from escorting enough glucose into your body's cells. According to the Mayo Clinic Health Letter Medical Essay, the greatest risk factor for type 2 diabetes is being overweight. It is estimated that 80 to 90 percent of people who develop type 2 diabetes are overweight. Other risk factors include age, race and heredity. Certain medication, such as steroids and thiazide diuretics used to treat high blood pressure, can also contribute to type 2 diabetes.