In which type of diabetes do target cells not respond normally to insulin?

Type 2 diabetes is characterized by insulin resistance, meaning that target cells do not respond effectively to insulin. In this condition, although the pancreas may produce insulin, the cells in the body fail to respond to it properly, leading to elevated blood glucose levels. This resistance is often associated with factors such as obesity, physical inactivity, and genetic predisposition. As the condition progresses, the pancreatic beta cells may also become dysfunctional, leading to decreased insulin production over time.

Type 1 diabetes, on the other hand, is primarily an autoimmune condition where the body’s immune system attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This results in little to no insulin production, but it does not involve the issue of target cells being resistant to insulin; rather, it is a lack of insulin altogether.

Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and is associated with insulin resistance as well, but it typically resolves after the pregnancy ends. Therefore, while gestational diabetes does involve a temporary form of insulin resistance, it does not define the chronic aspect of Type 2 diabetes.

In summary, Type 2 diabetes is distinguished by the target cells' inadequate response to insulin, which is the hallmark of this condition.