Diabetes mellitus type II (formerly noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM)__ampersandsignnbsp;or adult-onset diabetes)__ampersandsignnbsp;is a metabolic disorder that is characterized by hyperglycemia (high blood sugar)__ampersandsignnbsp;in the context of insulin resistance and relative lack of insulin. Obesity is thought to be the primary cause of type 2 diabetes in people who are genetically predisposed to the disease (although this is not the case in people of East-Asian ancestry).