Abstract
Insulin resistance is the primary cause of type 2 diabetes. However, if compensated by increased insulin production, insulin resistance by itself does not lead to overt disease. Type 2 diabetes develops when this compensation is insufficient, due to defects in beta-cell function and in regulation of the beta-cell mass. beta-Cell transplantation, as well as approaches that replenish or preserve the endogenous beta-cell mass, may facilitate the treatment of type 2 diabetes in patients requiring exogenous insulin.