This diagram depicts how Type 2 diabetes develops at the cell level: The damaged insulin receptors ignore insulin and prevent glucose from entering your cells via the glucose transporters [1a]. So, the glucose stays in the blood, causing your blood glucose to rise [1b]. As a result, the cells can't produce energy or burn fat [2].
Also, the cells are unable to remove toxins and waste [3]; and, over time, the cells become further damaged and lose the ability to communicate with each other [4].