Amyloid deposition in Type II diabetes pancreatic islet

A confocal micrograph of a pancreatic islet from a patient with Type II diabetes. Amyloid has been fluorescently leballed with thioflavin S (green). Amyloid is deposited initially adjacent to capillaries but progressively replaces islet cells. Although more than 90% Type 2 diabetic patients have at least one islet with amyloid, not all islets are affected in all subjects. Therefore, amyloid and reduction of beta cell mass is not a determining factor for onset of Type 2 diabetes.