[Pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes mellitus]

The development of type 2 diabetes is usually associated with a combination of pancreatic β-cell dysfunction and insulin resistance in various insulin target tissues such as the liver, muscle and adipocytes. Normal β-cells can compensate for insulin resistance by increasing insulin secretion or β-cell mass, but insufficient compensation leads to the onset of glucose intolerance. Once hyperglycemia becomes apparent, β-cell function gradually deteriorates and insulin resistance aggravates. This process is called "glucose toxicity".