Type 1 diabetes is defined by which characteristic?

Prepare for the PLTW Biomedical Science Test. Study with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question comes with hints and explanations. Get ready for your exam!

Multiple Choice

Type 1 diabetes is defined by which characteristic?

Explanation:
Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas stops producing insulin due to autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells. Without insulin, glucose cannot enter most body cells, causing high blood sugar and the need for insulin therapy. This is why the description that fits Type 1 is that the pancreas no longer produces insulin. The idea of insulin overproduction would lead to low blood sugar, not diabetes. Insulin receptor damage would cause insulin resistance (more typical of Type 2), and having blood sugar stay permanently low would be hypoglycemia, not diabetes.

Type 1 diabetes occurs when the pancreas stops producing insulin due to autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells. Without insulin, glucose cannot enter most body cells, causing high blood sugar and the need for insulin therapy. This is why the description that fits Type 1 is that the pancreas no longer produces insulin. The idea of insulin overproduction would lead to low blood sugar, not diabetes. Insulin receptor damage would cause insulin resistance (more typical of Type 2), and having blood sugar stay permanently low would be hypoglycemia, not diabetes.

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