Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

Type 1 diabetes is characterized by which of the following?

1. The body produces no insulin

2. The body produces some insulin

3. Insulin resistance occurs

4. It is a condition related to lifestyle choices

The correct answer is: The body produces no insulin

Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the body’s inability to produce insulin due to the autoimmune destruction of the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This lack of insulin production means that glucose cannot be effectively transported into the cells, leading to high blood sugar levels. This condition is distinct from type 2 diabetes, where the body may produce insulin but does not respond to it properly (insulin resistance) or may produce insufficient amounts. Option A accurately reflects the fundamental nature of Type 1 diabetes, emphasizing that there is virtually no insulin being produced, necessitating lifelong insulin therapy for management. The other options do not accurately describe the condition of Type 1 diabetes. Some insulin production, mentioned in option B, applies to type 2 diabetes or may occur early in the onset of type 1 diabetes before the beta cells are entirely destroyed. Insulin resistance, implied in option C, is primarily associated with type 2 diabetes and not type 1. Lastly, option D relating type 1 diabetes to lifestyle choices misrepresents the nature of the disease, as it is primarily an autoimmune condition with no connection to lifestyle factors in the way that type 2 diabetes can be influenced.