Endocrine Drugs and Medications Q 20
Which of the following statements involving Type II diabetes mellitus is correct?
A. It involves inefficient insulin production.
B. It involves cessation of Insulin production by the beta cells of the pancreas.
C. It involves increased insulin receptor responsiveness.
D. It involves the infant client.
Correct Answer: A. It involves inefficient insulin production.
In type II diabetes mellitus, insulin is produced in insufficient amounts along with reduced insulin receptor responsiveness. T2DM involves a more insidious onset where an imbalance between insulin levels and insulin sensitivity causes a functional deficit of insulin. Insulin resistance is multifactorial but commonly develops from obesity and aging.
Option B: In type II diabetes mellitus, the beta cells do produce insulin but in inadequate amounts. A patient with DM has the potential for hyperglycemia. The pathology of DM can be unclear since several factors can often contribute to the disease. Hyperglycemia alone can impair pancreatic beta-cell function and contributes to impaired insulin secretion. Consequentially, there is a vicious cycle of hyperglycemia leading to the impaired metabolic state. Blood glucose levels above 180 mg/dL are often considered hyperglycemic in this context, though because of the variety of mechanisms, there is no clear cutoff point.
Option C: There is decreased rather than increased insulin responsiveness. Insulin resistance is attributable to excess fatty acids and proinflammatory cytokines, which leads to impaired glucose transport and increases fat breakdown. Since there is an inadequate response or production of insulin, the body responds by inappropriately increasing glucagon, thus further contributing to hyperglycemia. While insulin resistance is a component of T2DM, the full extent of the disease results when the patient has inadequate production of insulin to compensate for their insulin resistance.
Option D: T1DM presents in children or adolescents, while T2DM is thought to affect middle-aged and older adults who have prolonged hyperglycemia due to poor lifestyle and dietary choices. The pathogenesis for T1DM and T2DM is drastically different, and therefore each type has various etiologies, presentations, and treatments.