Highlights

• Basal autophagy provides protection against the development of pancreatic β-cell dysfunction under normal physiological conditions.
• Over-activated autophagy induces the progression of type 2 diabetes by induction of pancreatic β-cell apoptosis.
• Autophagy modulators (activators or inhibitors) seem to have either protective or detrimental effects on pancreatic β-cells.
• Preclinical and clinical studies are warranted using autophagy modulators to manage type 2 diabetes patients.