Type 2 diabetes is a chronic condition that affects the way your body metabolizes sugar (glucose), an important source of fuel for your body. With type 2 diabetes, your body either resists the effects of insulin — a hormone that regulates the movement of sugar into your cells — or doesn't produce enough insulin to maintain normal glucose levels.

While type 2 diabetes is often associated with adults, it is increasingly being diagnosed in children and adolescents due to rising obesity rates. Managing the condition requires a lifelong commitment to blood sugar monitoring, healthy eating, regular exercise, and sometimes, diabetes medications or insulin therapy.