A disease that prevents patients from producing enough insulin or from using it effectively is called

• A. Hypertension
• B. Hyperlipidemia
• C. Hypoglycemia
• D. Diabetes

Answer: (D)

Diabetes is a condition of glucose regulation caused by insufficient insulin production or by insulin not working effectively in the body. Insulin helps glucose enter cells to be used for energy; when there isn’t enough insulin or the body's cells are resistant to it, glucose remains in the blood, leading to high blood sugar. Hypertension is high blood pressure, hyperlipidemia is high fats in the blood, and hypoglycemia is low blood sugar—each describes a different issue, not the problem of impaired insulin production or action.