Certified Ophthalmic Medical Technologist (COMT) Practice Exam

Which type of diabetes is characterized by the destruction of pancreatic beta cells leading to very low blood insulin levels?

1. Type I

2. Type II

3. Gestational Diabetes

4. Prediabetes

The correct answer is: Type I

Type I diabetes is characterized by the autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells, which are responsible for producing insulin. This destruction leads to very low insulin levels in the bloodstream, which is a hallmark of the disease. Patients with Type I diabetes typically require exogenous insulin administration to manage their blood glucose levels effectively. In contrast, Type II diabetes is largely associated with insulin resistance and often involves an initial increase in insulin production before it eventually declines. Gestational diabetes occurs during pregnancy and is typically a result of hormonal changes affecting insulin function rather than destruction of beta cells. Prediabetes is a state of elevated blood sugar levels that does not yet meet the criteria for diabetes but does not involve the destruction of pancreatic beta cells to the same extent as Type I diabetes. These distinctions underline why Type I diabetes is specifically associated with low blood insulin levels due to the loss of beta cell function.