Final answer:
Type 2 DM patients may initially be treated with lifestyle changes and oral medications. As the disease progresses, some may require insulin therapy. Type 2 diabetes usually presents in adulthood, with patients still producing some insulin, contrary to Type 1 DM which involves an absence of insulin production and is often diagnosed in younger individuals.
Step-by-step explanation:
Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (DM) Treatment
When addressing the query about Type 2 DM patients and their treatment, it's crucial to understand the nature of the disease. Type 2 diabetes is characterized typically by insulin resistance where the body's cells do not use insulin efficiently, although insulin is still being produced by the pancreas to some extent. This is in contrast with Type 1 diabetes, where there is an autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells, leading to an absolute deficiency of insulin.
Patients with Type 2 DM often manage the condition initially through lifestyle modifications like diet and exercise, which can improve the body's sensitivity to insulin. However, some may require additional medical treatment, which commonly begins with oral medications that enhance the pancreatic function or increase insulin sensitivity. Over time, if these measures are not sufficient to control blood glucose levels, patients with Type 2 DM may require insulin therapy. Contrary to Type 1 DM, Type 2 diabetes is usually diagnosed in adulthood, but it is now becoming more common in children and teens due to the rising prevalence of obesity.
Therefore, the correct answer to the student's question is that Type 2 DM patients may be treated with oral medications, but some individuals, especially as their condition progresses, may require insulin therapy. These patients are typically diagnosed later in life, not during childhood, and they do secrete insulin, although their bodies are resistant to its effects.