What characterizes Type II diabetes mellitus?

What characterizes Type II diabetes mellitus?

• A. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells.
• B. A metabolic disorder characterized by insulin resistance and relative insulin deficiency.
• C. Onset in older adults.
• D. Excess insulin production.

Answer: (B)

The main idea being tested is that Type II diabetes is a metabolic disorder defined by insulin resistance with a relative (not absolute) deficiency of insulin. In Type II, the body's tissues don’t respond well to insulin, so glucose stays in the blood because uptake by muscle and fat is reduced and the liver may keep producing glucose. To counter this, the pancreas ramps up insulin production, but over time the beta cells can’t keep up, leading to insufficient insulin relative to the level of resistance and resulting hyperglycemia. This contrasts with Type I, where autoimmune destruction of beta cells causes a lack of insulin rather than resistance. Type II is commonly associated with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle and typically begins in adulthood, though it can occur at younger ages. The idea of excess insulin production isn’t the defining feature, since the disease course often progresses to relative insulin deficiency rather than sustained excess.

The main idea being tested is that Type II diabetes is a metabolic disorder defined by insulin resistance with a relative (not absolute) deficiency of insulin. In Type II, the body's tissues don’t respond well to insulin, so glucose stays in the blood because uptake by muscle and fat is reduced and the liver may keep producing glucose. To counter this, the pancreas ramps up insulin production, but over time the beta cells can’t keep up, leading to insufficient insulin relative to the level of resistance and resulting hyperglycemia. This contrasts with Type I, where autoimmune destruction of beta cells causes a lack of insulin rather than resistance. Type II is commonly associated with obesity and a sedentary lifestyle and typically begins in adulthood, though it can occur at younger ages. The idea of excess insulin production isn’t the defining feature, since the disease course often progresses to relative insulin deficiency rather than sustained excess.