Which statement best informs an adolescent with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes about insulin needs?

Which statement best informs an adolescent with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes about insulin needs?

• A. Insulin will be required throughout life
• B. Insulin may be taken orally until adulthood
• C. Insulin needs increase with strenuous exercise
• D. Insulin needs decrease in the presence of an infection

Answer: (A)

The main idea here is that in type 1 diabetes, the pancreas can’t produce insulin anymore, so people need insulin therapy for life. Without it, glucose builds up in the blood and dangerous conditions like diabetic ketoacidosis can occur, so replacement is ongoing and life-long. Insulin isn’t taken by mouth because it’s a protein that would be broken down in the digestive system, so it must be given by injection or via an pump to get into the bloodstream effectively. Strenuous exercise can actually lower insulin needs or require adjustments because muscles use more glucose during activity and insulin sensitivity changes. Infections don’t lower insulin needs; they raise it because stress hormones push glucose up, often needing more insulin. These nuances help explain why the lifelong need for insulin is the most accurate statement. So the best answer is that insulin will be required throughout life.

The main idea here is that in type 1 diabetes, the pancreas can’t produce insulin anymore, so people need insulin therapy for life. Without it, glucose builds up in the blood and dangerous conditions like diabetic ketoacidosis can occur, so replacement is ongoing and life-long.

Insulin isn’t taken by mouth because it’s a protein that would be broken down in the digestive system, so it must be given by injection or via an pump to get into the bloodstream effectively.

Strenuous exercise can actually lower insulin needs or require adjustments because muscles use more glucose during activity and insulin sensitivity changes. Infections don’t lower insulin needs; they raise it because stress hormones push glucose up, often needing more insulin. These nuances help explain why the lifelong need for insulin is the most accurate statement.

So the best answer is that insulin will be required throughout life.