Which statement best describes Type 1 diabetes?

• A. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by little or no insulin.
• B. Type 1 diabetes is caused by insulin resistance with excess insulin production.
• C. Type 1 diabetes occurs only during pregnancy.
• D. Type 1 diabetes is defined by high blood sugar unrelated to insulin.

Answer: (A)

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune condition in which the immune system destroys insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas, so little to no insulin is made. Without insulin, glucose can't enter body cells, causing high blood sugar and requiring insulin therapy to manage it. This is why the statement about having little or no insulin best describes Type 1.

The other ideas don’t fit Type 1: insulin resistance with excessive insulin production describes Type 2 diabetes, not Type 1; it isn’t limited to pregnancy (that describes gestational diabetes); and high blood sugar can be linked to problems with insulin, not something unrelated to insulin.