Type 2 DM was previously called non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus

(NIDDM) or adult-onset diabetes. Type 2 DM may account for about 90% to 95% of all

diagnosed cases of diabetes [2]. It usually begins as insulin resistance, a disorder in

which the cells do not properly use insulin. As the need for insulin rises, the pancreas

gradually loses its ability to produce insulin. Type 2 DM is associated with older age,

obesity, family history of diabetes, prior history of gestational diabetes, impaired glucose

tolerance, physical inactivity, and race/ethnicity. African Americans, Hispanic/Latino

Americans, Native Americans, and some Asian Americans, Native Hawaiian, or

other Pacific Islanders are at particularly high risk for Type 2 DM and is increasingly

being diagnosed in children and adolescents [6, 10].

Table 1-1. Risk Factors Associated with Diabetes
 Risk Factor Description
Older Age As people get older, they become less active and may gain excess
 weight. Over 65 years, the incidence of type 2 DM reaches 20%
Obesity Body mass index (BMI) is an indication of whether your weight is
 in the healthy weight range in relation to your height. A BMI of 30
 or greater is considered overweight
Body Weight is only part of the equation. Individuals who carry most of
Composition their weight in the trunk of their bodies, above the hips, tend to have
 a higher risk of diabetes than those of similar weight with a pear-
 shaped body, excess fat carried mainly in the hips and thighs. A
 waist measurement of more than 100 cm (39.5 inches) in men and
 95 cm (37.5 inches) in women suggests an increased risk
Family History Having a blood relative with type 2 DM increases the risk. If that
 person is a first-degree relative, the risk is even higher. Genes are
 responsible for many aspects of regulating blood glucose control,
 and problems with these genes or how they work under certain
 conditions, such as stress, inactivity or overweight, may be
 responsible for diabetes. The National Institute of Diabetes and
 Digestive and Kidney Diseases (NIDDK) is planning the Diabetes
 Genome Anatomy Project, which will profile genes in all tissues
 relevant to diabetes, including fat, muscle, and kidney, to gain
 insight into the origin and development of diabetes and its
 complications.