Type 2 diabetes develops when your body is unable to use insulin appropriately. Without treatment, Type 2 diabetes can lead to a variety of health issues, including heart disease, renal disease, and stroke. You can manage this disease by changing your lifestyle, taking medications, and visiting your doctor regularly. Overview What is Type 2 Diabetes? Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is a chronic illness that occurs when blood sugar levels remain consistently high (hyperglycemia). Healthy blood sugar (glucose) levels range from 70 to 99 milligrams per deciliter (mg/dL). If you have undetected Type 2 diabetes, your readings are usually 126 mg/dL or higher. T2D occurs when your pancreas produces insufficient insulin (a hormone), your body fails to use insulin appropriately, or both. This is distinct from Type 1 diabetes, which occurs when an autoimmune attack on the pancreas causes a complete absence of insulin production. How frequent is Type 2 Diabetes? Type 2 diabetes is extremely common. In...