What it means
The most common kind of diabetes mellitusdy-uh-BEE-teez MEL-ih-tusA long-term disease in which blood glucose stays high because the body makes too little insulin or cannot use it well.Full entry . The body's cells resist insulinIN-suh-linA hormone made by the pancreas that lets the body's cells take in glucose, also made as a medicine.Full entry (insulin resistance), and over time the pancreas cannot make enough extra insulin to keep up, so blood glucoseBLUD GLOO-kohsThe amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood at the time it is measured.Full entry rises. It usually develops slowly in adults, and more and more in children, and is linked to excess weight, inactivity and family history. It is treated with healthy eating, exercise and weight loss, then oral or injected drugs, and sometimes insulin.
For the nurse
Teach blood glucose checks, the signs of hypoglycemiahy-poh-gly-SEE-mee-uhA blood glucose level below normal, under 70 mg/dL.hypo- belowglyc/o sugar, glucose-emia in the bloodFull entry and hyperglycemiahy-per-gly-SEE-mee-uhA blood glucose level above normal, over 100 mg/dL when fasting.hyper- aboveglyc/o sugar-emia in the bloodFull entry , foot care, and the yearly eye and kidney checks. Very high glucose in type 2 diabetes can lead to HHSaych-aych-ES (said as letters)Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state: very high blood glucose with severe dehydration and little or no ketone buildup.Full entry .
At a glance
| Abbreviations | T2DM |
|---|---|
| Spanish | diabetes tipo 2 |
| Also written | type 2 diabetes mellitus, type II diabetes, T2DM |
Easy to confuse with
type 1 diabetes
A form of diabetes in which the pancreas makes little or no insulin because the immune system has destroyed the cells that make it.
Related terms
insulin
A hormone made by the pancreas that lets the body's cells take in glucose, also made as a medicine.
diabetes mellitus
A long-term disease in which blood glucose stays high because the body makes too little insulin or cannot use it well.
HHS
Hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state: very high blood glucose with severe dehydration and little or no ketone buildup.
blood glucose
The amount of sugar (glucose) in the blood at the time it is measured.