Which disease is caused by an inability to metabolize glucose normally due to insulin production problems?

• A. Diabetes
• B. Hypertension
• C. Stroke
• D. Anemia

Answer: (A)

Insulin production problems disrupt normal glucose metabolism, which is diabetes mellitus. Insulin normally helps glucose enter cells, especially muscle and fat cells; when there isn't enough insulin or its action is impaired, glucose stays in the bloodstream and blood sugar rises. This can occur because the pancreas makes little to no insulin (type 1) or because the body isn’t using insulin effectively (type 2). The result is impaired glucose utilization and hyperglycemia. Other conditions listed aren’t driven by insulin production issues—hypertension, stroke, and anemia involve blood pressure regulation, cerebrovascular events, and red blood cell count, not the body's ability to metabolize glucose with insulin.