ACE Personal Trainer Practice Exam

Type 2 diabetes is most commonly associated with which of the following factors?

1. Genetic predisposition

2. Regular high insulin secretion

3. Reduced sensitivity to insulin in target cells

4. Childhood onset

The correct answer is: Reduced sensitivity to insulin in target cells

Type 2 diabetes is primarily characterized by insulin resistance, which means that the body's cells, particularly in muscle and adipose tissue, become less sensitive to insulin. This leads to a situation where, despite normal or even elevated levels of insulin, glucose is not effectively taken up by the cells, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. As the disease progresses, the pancreas may attempt to compensate for this resistance by producing more insulin. However, over time, the pancreatic beta cells can become exhausted, leading to insufficient insulin production. This process results in the hallmark of Type 2 diabetes: chronically elevated fasting and postprandial blood sugar levels. Genetic predisposition does play a role in the development of Type 2 diabetes, but it is the mechanism of reduced sensitivity to insulin in target tissues that is most strongly associated with the disease's presence and progression. Regular high insulin secretion can occur as a compensatory mechanism but is not as directly linked to the foundational issue of Type 2 diabetes as insulin resistance is. Additionally, while Type 2 diabetes can occur during childhood, it is far more prevalent in adults and is typically associated with lifestyle factors such as obesity and inactivity rather than a strictly childhood onset.