Question

A 54-year-old patient admitted with type 2 diabetes, asks the nurse what 'type 2' means. Which of the following is the most appropriate response by the nurse?

1) With type 2 diabetes, the body of the pancreas becomes inflamed.
2) With type 2 diabetes, insulin secretion is decreased and insulin resistance is increased.
3) With type 2 diabetes, the patient is totally dependent on an outside source of insulin.
4) With type 2 diabetes, the body produces autoantibodies that destroy β-cells in the pancreas.

Answer 1

The most appropriate explanation for a patient with type 2 diabetes is that the condition is characterized by decreased insulin secretion and increased insulin resistance, making the body's cells less responsive to insulin.

Step-by-step explanation:

When explaining type 2 diabetes to a patient, it's important to convey that this condition involves a combination of insulin resistance and often a decrease in insulin production over time. Unlike type 1 diabetes, which is an autoimmune disorder that leads to the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas and therefore a total dependence on externally supplied insulin, type 2 diabetes is characterized by the body's cells becoming less responsive to the insulin produced. This resistance leads to higher levels of glucose in the blood because insulin's effectiveness at transporting glucose into the cells is diminished.

Therefore, the most appropriate response to the patient would be option 2: "With type 2 diabetes, insulin secretion is decreased and insulin resistance is increased." This response encompasses the dual elements of the condition that contribute to its development and progression.