What is the best description of type 2 diabetes?

• A. Autoimmune destruction of beta cells
• B. Chronic disorder with insulin resistance and relative impaired insulin secretion
• C. Absolute insulin deficiency due to beta-cell destruction
• D. Acute pancreatitis

Answer: (B)

Type 2 diabetes is best described as a condition marked by insulin resistance with a relative, not absolute, impairment in insulin secretion. In this scenario, the body's tissues don’t respond well to insulin, so glucose uptake by muscle and fat is reduced. The pancreas initially compensates by producing more insulin, but over time its beta cells can’t keep up, leading to elevated blood glucose. This differs from autoimmune destruction of beta cells seen in type 1 diabetes, which causes an absolute insulin deficiency. Absolute insulin deficiency due to beta-cell destruction isn’t the typical description of type 2. Acute pancreatitis is an unrelated acute condition of the pancreas and doesn’t define type 2 diabetes.