What is the common term for diabetes managed only with medication, not requiring insulin?

The term "non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus" is used to describe a form of diabetes that is managed through medication without the need for insulin therapy. This condition encompasses the understanding that the body's ability to produce insulin remains functional to some degree, allowing it to be managed with oral hypoglycemic agents or other non-insulin medications.

This distinction highlights the commonality of individuals with this type of diabetes, where lifestyle changes and medications playing a significant role in blood glucose management are prevalent. It's important to recognize that while insulin therapy is not required for all patients at diagnosis, it may become necessary as the disease progresses.

In the case of Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas produces little to no insulin, necessitating insulin therapy from diagnosis onward. Type 2 diabetes, while often referred to descriptively in varying terms, primarily includes the concept of non-insulin dependence initially; however, the question specifically signifies the need for medication rather than insulin, making non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus the more precise term. Insulin-resistant diabetes is not a standard classification in presentation and therefore lacks the defined context needed for this question.