type 2 diabetes

noun \ -ˈtü- \

Updated on: 16 May 2018

Definition of type 2 diabetes

: a common form of diabetes mellitus that develops especially in adults and most often in obese individuals and that is characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from impaired insulin utilization coupled with the body's inability to compensate with increased insulin production — called also non-insulin-dependent diabetes, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus

Recent Examples of type 2 diabetes from the Web

It’s more complicated than that—while symptoms of type 1 diabetes often set in within a few weeks, type 2 diabetes can be asymptomatic or take years to show up, according to the NIDDK.

— korin miller, SELF, "5 Things That Can Cause Cloudy Pee," 31 Jan. 2018
If your child is overweight, make sure his pediatrician tests him, because type 2 diabetes is on the rise in kids.

— barbara brody, Woman's Day, "7 Signs You May Have Type 2 Diabetes," 29 June 2017
Studies show that drinking moderately over three or four days a week may actually lower the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

— sandee lamotte, CNN, "What too much alcohol can do to your health," 13 Apr. 2018
Patients are diagnosed with pre-diabetes when their blood-sugar level is high enough to put them at a high risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

— naseem s. miller, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Orlando free clinic Grace Medical Home part of pre-diabetes study," 13 Apr. 2018
Despite the controversy around java and acrylamide — and coffee and cancer in general — research has shown that drinking coffee may reduce your risk of developing type 2 diabetes and heart disease.

— Time, "California Coffee Shops Will Warn Customers About This Possibly Cancer-Causing Chemical. Here's What to Know About It," 30 Mar. 2018
Dietary fiber may also help improve blood sugar levels, and lower risk of heart disease, stroke, obesity and type 2 diabetes.

— rochelle koff, miamiherald, "You may feel like 20, but you can’t eat like one — the best foods to eat as you age | Miami Herald," 25 Mar. 2018
America’s largest health insurer, UnitedHealthcare, and Fitbit (via a partnership with glucose monitoring specialist DexCom) are launching a pilot program aimed at type 2 diabetes.

— clifton leaf, Fortune, "Brainstorm Health: Cancer Blood Test, Government Shutdown, Delaware Sues Opioid Makers," 19 Jan. 2018
People with the highest blood levels of trans-palmitoleic acid, a compound in dairy fat, were 60 percent less likely to develop type 2 diabetes than those with the lowest.

— laurel leicht, Redbook, "Go Ahead, Have Some Full-Fat Cheese!," 7 June 2011

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'type 2 diabetes.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of type 2 diabetes

1982

in the meaning defined above

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

Medical Dictionary

type 2 diabetes

noun \ -ˈtü- \

medical Definition of type 2 diabetes

: diabetes mellitus of a common form that develops especially in adults and most often in obese individuals and that is characterized by hyperglycemia resulting from impaired insulin utilization coupled with the body's inability to compensate with increased insulin production — called also adult-onset diabetes, late-onset diabetes, maturity-onset diabetes, non-insulin-dependent diabetes, non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus, type 2 diabetes mellitus