AEMCA Practice Exam

What is a characteristic of Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)?

1. Beta cells cannot produce enough insulin.

2. The body has an excess of insulin.

3. There is a complete shutdown of insulin production.

4. The disease is only found in children.

The correct answer is: Beta cells cannot produce enough insulin.

The characteristic that beta cells cannot produce enough insulin is accurate for Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM), also known as Type 2 diabetes. This condition often arises from insulin resistance, where the body's cells do not respond effectively to insulin. Over time, the pancreatic beta cells may become dysfunctional and fail to produce sufficient insulin to maintain normal blood glucose levels. This leads to hyperglycemia, which is a hallmark of NIDDM. This understanding highlights that while insulin is still being produced, its levels may not be adequate to overcome the resistance present in the tissues, making it a primary characteristic of the disease. Other options do not accurately represent the nature of NIDDM. For example, the assumption of excess insulin is misleading since patients often have insufficient insulin function, and a complete shutdown of insulin production is more aligned with Type 1 diabetes. Additionally, the notion that NIDDM is only found in children is incorrect, as this form of diabetes is predominantly observed in adults, although it increasingly affects younger populations due to rising obesity rates.