Which type of diabetes is often associated with insulin resistance?

The correct answer, Type 2 diabetes, is commonly linked with insulin resistance, which is a significant feature of the condition. In Type 2 diabetes, the body’s cells become less responsive to insulin, a hormone produced by the pancreas that regulates blood sugar levels. As a result, the pancreas compensates by producing more insulin to maintain normal glucose levels. Over time, this compensatory mechanism fails, leading to elevated blood sugar levels.

Several factors contribute to insulin resistance in Type 2 diabetes, including obesity, physical inactivity, and genetic predisposition. The condition is often associated with metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions including high blood pressure, high blood sugar, excess body fat around the waist, and abnormal cholesterol levels.

In contrast, Type 1 diabetes is primarily an autoimmune condition where the body attacks insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, leading to little to no insulin production. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and usually resolves after childbirth but is related to hormonal changes that increase insulin resistance. Autoimmune diabetes, often considered to include Type 1, also focuses on the immune-mediated destruction of insulin-producing cells. Thus, Type 2 diabetes is distinct in its association with insulin resistance as a central mechanism of the disease.