Insulin resistance is

Insulin resistance is

• A. Insulin production increases dramatically
• B. The liver becomes resistant to glucagon
• C. A condition where cells become less responsive to insulin
• D. A condition where cells respond more to insulin

Answer: (C)

Insulin resistance is a state in which cells—especially in muscle, fat, and liver—become less responsive to insulin. After a meal, insulin normally helps these cells take up glucose from the blood; when resistance exists, that uptake is impaired, so blood glucose stays higher than it should. In response, the pancreas often produces more insulin to try to overcome this resistance, leading to higher circulating insulin levels early on. Over time, beta cells may struggle to keep up, increasing the risk of elevated blood sugar and type 2 diabetes. This concept is not about the liver being resistant to glucagon, nor about cells responding more to insulin; the defining idea is a diminished cellular response to insulin.

Insulin resistance is a state in which cells—especially in muscle, fat, and liver—become less responsive to insulin. After a meal, insulin normally helps these cells take up glucose from the blood; when resistance exists, that uptake is impaired, so blood glucose stays higher than it should. In response, the pancreas often produces more insulin to try to overcome this resistance, leading to higher circulating insulin levels early on. Over time, beta cells may struggle to keep up, increasing the risk of elevated blood sugar and type 2 diabetes. This concept is not about the liver being resistant to glucagon, nor about cells responding more to insulin; the defining idea is a diminished cellular response to insulin.