Obesity and type 2 diabetes mellitus in South Dakota: focused insight into prevalence, physiology and treatment.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is one of the significant comorbidities of obesity. This review addresses the prevalence of obesity and diabetes mellitus nationally and in South Dakota. It elaborates on some of the mechanisms of association of obesity with diabetes mellitus, including effects related to adipokines, lipotoxicity, vitamin D deficiency and apolipoprotein C1. This review addresses the prevention and treatment of diabetes mellitus in the obese population through life style changes, medications and/or surgery. Future directions in the management of diabetes are explored in the obese population.