Final answer:
Type 2 diabetes is primarily caused by insulin resistance at the cellular level, making it different from type 1 diabetes, which is characterized by an autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.
Step-by-step explanation:
In contrast to type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes is caused by resistance to insulin at the cellular level. While type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, typically develops in children and young adults and involves the immune system attacking the insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas, leading to a lack of insulin production, type 2 diabetes commonly develops in adulthood as a result of the body's cells becoming less responsive to insulin, a condition known as insulin resistance. This resistance makes it difficult for cells to take up enough glucose from the blood, disrupting glucose homeostasis. Unlike type 1 diabetes, in type 2 diabetes, the pancreas usually still produces insulin, but it is not used effectively by the body's cells. Certain lifestyle factors, such as being overweight and having high blood pressure, can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, and while it can be managed with diet and exercise, some individuals may eventually require insulin therapy as the disease progresses.