The hormone insulin is essential for sugar metabolism; deficiency leads to which disease?

Study for the PLTW Medical Detectives Exam. Prepare with flashcards and multiple choice questions, each question has hints and explanations. Get ready for your test and excel!

Multiple Choice

The hormone insulin is essential for sugar metabolism; deficiency leads to which disease?

Explanation:
Insulin helps cells take in glucose from the bloodstream. When insulin is deficient, glucose can’t enter most body cells and stays circulating in the blood, leading to diabetes mellitus. This condition is characterized by high blood sugar and, if untreated, symptoms like increased thirst, frequent urination, and weight loss. The other conditions listed—epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and leukemia—are not caused by problems with insulin or glucose metabolism, so they don’t fit the scenario of insulin deficiency causing diabetes.

Insulin helps cells take in glucose from the bloodstream. When insulin is deficient, glucose can’t enter most body cells and stays circulating in the blood, leading to diabetes mellitus. This condition is characterized by high blood sugar and, if untreated, symptoms like increased thirst, frequent urination, and weight loss. The other conditions listed—epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and leukemia—are not caused by problems with insulin or glucose metabolism, so they don’t fit the scenario of insulin deficiency causing diabetes.

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