Which description fits Type 2 diabetes?

• A. Type 2 diabetes involves little or no insulin.
• B. Type 2 diabetes involves improper use of insulin (insulin resistance).
• C. Type 2 diabetes is gestational diabetes.
• D. Type 2 diabetes is an autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells.

Answer: (B)

Insulin resistance is the key idea here. In Type 2 diabetes, the body's cells don’t respond properly to insulin, so glucose stays in the bloodstream rather than getting into cells to be used for energy. The pancreas often makes insulin, especially early on, but its effect is blunted, which leads to high blood glucose. Over time, insulin production can decline as well. That’s why the description that fits is the one about improper use of insulin (insulin resistance).

It’s not about having little or no insulin—that aligns more with Type 1 diabetes, where autoimmune destruction reduces or stops insulin production. It’s not gestational diabetes, which is specific to pregnancy, and it’s not autoimmune destruction of beta cells, which is characteristic of Type 1.