Question

A 15-year-old child is brought to the emergency department with symptoms of hyperglycemia and is subsequently diagnosed with diabetes. Based on the fact that the child's pancreatic beta cells are being destroyed, the patient would be diagnosed with what type of diabetes?

A) Type 1 diabetes
B) Type 2 diabetes
C) Non-insulin-dependent diabetes
D) Prediabetes

Answer 1

The child's symptoms and beta cell destruction indicate autoimmune Type 1 diabetes, necessitating lifelong insulin therapy.

The correct option is, (A) Type 1 diabetes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The child's presentation of hyperglycemia, along with the destruction of pancreatic beta cells, points towards Type 1 diabetes.

In this autoimmune condition, the body's immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. As a result, the child experiences insulin deficiency, leading to elevated blood glucose levels.

Type 1 diabetes often manifests in childhood or adolescence and requires lifelong insulin therapy for glucose regulation. Unlike Type 2 diabetes, which is associated with insulin resistance, Type 1 diabetes is characterized by an absolute lack of insulin production due to the immune-mediated destruction of beta cells.

Answer 2

Type 1 diabetes is a chronic autoimmune disorder that affects the insulin-secreting beta cells in the pancreas. It usually develops in childhood or adolescence and requires insulin injections.

Step-by-step explanation:

Type 1 diabetes, also known as juvenile diabetes, occurs when the immune system attacks the insulin-secreting beta cells in the pancreas. This autoimmune disease leads to a lack of insulin production and is usually diagnosed in children and young adults. Symptoms include hyperglycemia, extreme thirst and urination, weight loss, and fatigue. Insulin injections are critical for managing type 1 diabetes.