Final answer:
Diabetes mellitus is not caused by the generation of enzymes that degrade insulin. It is typically caused by the pancreas under-producing insulin or the body's cells resisting insulin's effects, leading to high blood glucose levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question asks which of the following is NOT a cause of diabetes:
- inability to produce insulin
- loss of ability to respond to insulin when it is produced
- the generation of enzymes in the blood that rapidly degrade insulin after the release from the pancreas
The correct answer is c) the generation of enzymes in the blood that rapidly degrade insulin after the release from the pancreas. This is not a cause of diabetes. Instead, diabetes mellitus is primarily caused by either the pancreas under-producing insulin (as in Type 1 diabetes), or the body's cells showing resistance to insulin (as in Type 2 diabetes). The pancreas needs to produce adequate amounts of insulin, and cells must respond appropriately for glucose to be utilized effectively by the body. Problems with pancreatic hormone insulin function lead to high blood glucose levels and diabetes mellitus.