OCR General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE) Biology Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the OCR GCSE Biology Exam with our comprehensive study resources. Practice with quizzes, flashcards, and detailed explanations to enhance your understanding. Ace your exam and secure your academic success!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What happens to blood sugar levels in type two diabetes?

They remain constant regardless of diet
They can drop dangerously low
They may rise to dangerous levels due to insulin resistance
They decrease with regular exercise only

The correct answer is: They may rise to dangerous levels due to insulin resistance

In type two diabetes, blood sugar levels can rise to dangerous levels primarily due to insulin resistance. This condition occurs when the body's cells do not respond effectively to insulin, a hormone that helps regulate blood glucose levels. As a result, glucose remains in the bloodstream instead of being taken up by the cells for energy, leading to elevated blood sugar levels. Understanding the mechanics of insulin resistance highlights why uncontrolled blood sugar levels are a concern in type two diabetes. When insulin is present, but the cells do not effectively respond to it, the pancreas tries to compensate by producing even more insulin. However, over time, this can lead to the pancreas becoming exhausted, further exacerbating high blood sugar levels. Additionally, while factors like diet and exercise do influence blood sugar levels, they do not negate the impact of insulin resistance in type two diabetes. This makes the third option the most accurate depiction of what occurs in this type of diabetes.