Final answer:
Due to insufficient insulin, cells unable to use glucose turn to fatty acid breakdown for energy, leading to excessive use of fatty acids and the production of ketone bodies, resulting in conditions such as ketoacidosis.
Step-by-step explanation:
Lack of insulin results in the body not being able to utilize glucose effectively for energy. This is because insulin is a hormone secreted by the pancreas, which facilitates the uptake of glucose into the cells. When insulin is lacking, as is the case in diabetes mellitus, the glucose remains in the bloodstream rather than entering cells. Consequently, cells must find alternative energy sources, leading to the excessive use of fatty acids for energy through a process known as beta-oxidation.
The liver converts excess carbohydrates into glycogen, but when the glycogen stores are full, any additional glucose is converted into fatty acids for long-term energy storage in adipose tissue. In the absence of insulin, not only is there a failure to store glucose as glycogen, but there is also an increased breakdown of these fatty acids in the adipose tissue to meet energy demands. The byproducts of this excessive fatty acid metabolism are ketone bodies, which can lead to conditions such as ketoacidosis, particularly evident in uncontrolled diabetes. Ketoacidosis is characterized by an increased production of ketone bodies and a subsequent decrease in blood pH levels.
Overall, the lack of insulin leads to a situation where the body relies more on the energy from fatty acids, and this shift has significant consequences, including the risk of ketosis or ketoacidosis, both of which are serious and require medical attention.