Human insulin like growth factor 2 shares structural similarity to insulin. It belongs to the insulin family which are involved in growth and development. It is one out of the three other protein hormones which also share the same structure. Insulin like growth factor 2 has insulin like properties and also consists of growth regulating and mitogenic activities. Unlike insulin like growth factor 1 which is the main growth factor in adults, insulin like growth factor 2 is the main growth factor in foetuses. Insulin like growth factor 2 gene is located on 11p15.5 chromosome region. This region consists of various imprinted genes. CTCF protein is involved in repression of the gene expression. The main role of Insulin like growth factor 2 is during gestation period as a growth promoting hormone. Insulin like growth factor 2 is formed by the thecal cells during the process of folliculogenesis. Granulosa cell proliferation during menstrual cycle follicular stage is promoted by insulin like growth factor 2, after ovulation it promotes progesterone secretion during luteal phase.

Islet cell tumors produces excess of insulin like growth hormone which leads to hypoglycemia. Loss in imprinting of insulin like growth factor 2 is observed to be a common features in tumors with Beckman-Wiedemann syndrome. Insulin like growth factor 2 is thought to be associated with diabetes mellitus due to its function of development of pancreatic beta cells in the foetus.