Type 2 diabetes. Illustration of the metabolic processes that occur in the stomach, pancreas and bloodstream in diabetes mellitus type 2. Food entering the stomach (upper centre) is digested and glucose (blue spheres) enters the bloodstream (upper right). The pancreatic hormone insulin (green) helps control the level of glucose in the blood. In type 2 diabetes, the pancreas (behind stomach) produces insulin but the body becomes resistant to its effects. The levels of glucose in the blood can rise to dangerous levels. As obesity is a common cause, type 2 diabetes is managed by dietary changes and exercise. For an illustration of type 1 diabetes, see image C029/3017.