In contrast to type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes:

• A. is caused by a complete lack of insulin in the body
• B. is caused by resistance to insulin at the cellular level
• C. is commonly diagnosed in children and young adults
• D. occurs when antibodies attack insulin-producing cells

Answer: (B)

Type 2 diabetes is defined by insulin resistance at the cellular level, meaning the body's tissues don’t respond effectively to insulin even though insulin is still being produced. Because of this resistance, glucose isn’t taken up efficiently by muscles and fat, and the liver may continue producing glucose, leading to high blood sugar. Over time, the pancreas may also struggle to keep up, but the key feature is that insulin is present and working poorly, not completely absent.

This distinguishes it from other statements: a complete lack of insulin describes type 1 diabetes, where the immune system destroys insulin-producing cells. Being diagnosed in children and young adults is more typical of type 1. And antibodies attacking insulin-producing cells is an autoimmune process characteristic of type 1, not type 2.