In type 1 diabetes, what is wrong with the pancreatic beta cells?

In type 1 diabetes, what is wrong with the pancreatic beta cells?

• A. They do not function properly and do not produce insulin.
• B. They overproduce insulin.
• C. They become resistant to insulin.
• D. They secrete glucagon instead of insulin.

Answer: (A)

In type 1 diabetes, autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells leads to little or no insulin production. Insulin is the hormone that allows glucose to enter most cells; without it, blood glucose stays high and cells can’t access energy. So the beta cells not producing insulin accurately describes what goes wrong. The other ideas don’t fit type 1: overproducing insulin would lower blood glucose and isn’t typical here; insulin resistance means cells don’t respond to insulin (more common in type 2); and glucagon is secreted by alpha cells, not beta cells, so the issue isn’t a switch to secreting glucagon.

In type 1 diabetes, autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells leads to little or no insulin production. Insulin is the hormone that allows glucose to enter most cells; without it, blood glucose stays high and cells can’t access energy. So the beta cells not producing insulin accurately describes what goes wrong. The other ideas don’t fit type 1: overproducing insulin would lower blood glucose and isn’t typical here; insulin resistance means cells don’t respond to insulin (more common in type 2); and glucagon is secreted by alpha cells, not beta cells, so the issue isn’t a switch to secreting glucagon.