Why does type 2 diabetes usually appear in later adulthood?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

The question asks why type 2 diabetes usually appears in later adulthood, so we begin by evaluating each statement in light of what is known about the disease's etiology and timing.
Option 1: 'Because it is easier to diagnose in adults.' While diagnostic methods may differ by age, this does not explain why the disease tends to develop later. Diagnosis ease is about detection, not the underlying development of type 2 diabetes, which is linked to long-term metabolic changes rather than a simple diagnostic convenience.
Option 2: 'Because old people are more susceptible to any disease.' This broad generalization incorrectly attributes all disease incidence in older adults to a general susceptibility. Type 2 diabetes specifically develops due to cumulative risk factors such as obesity, sedentary behavior, and insulin resistance, not a universal age-based susceptibility to all illnesses.
Option 3: 'Because old people moan a lot and their doctors tell them they have something wrong with them to get rid of them.' This is a stereotype and a misleading, inappropriate claim. It confuses communication dynamics with biological risk and lacks any scientific basis for the onset of type 2 diabetes.
Option 4: 'Because lifestyle choices lead to problems (obesity, lack of fitness) that take time to accumulate.' This option aligns with the well-supported understanding that prolonged exposure to adverse lifestyle factors contributes to insulin resistance and beta-cell stress, and the effects accumulate over years, often becoming clinically evident in later adulthood as metabolic reserve declines.
In sum, the first three options describe incorrect or irrelevant ideas about disease onset, whereas the fourth option accurately reflects the cumulative impact of lifestyle-related risk factors over time leading to type 2 diabetes in many individuals.

OLET1504 2025 Prevalence of Diabetes: Knowledge Review

Why does type 2 diabetes usually appear in later adulthood?

View Explanation

Log in for full answers

Similar Questions

Which factor contributed most significantly to the rise of diabetes among Southwestern tribes such as the Pima?

Which is not a risk factor for developing Type 2 Diabetes?

Choose the best of the following reasons why diabetes rates are higher in the US than most other countries.

Why do high-income countries have a greater rate of diabetes?

What is the primary risk factor for the development of type 2 diabetes?

Identify the factors that are linked to susceptibility to getting type 2 diabetes

Which of the following predispose individuals to Diabetes Mellitus Type 2? (select all that apply)

More Practical Tools for Students Powered by AI Study Helper

Homework AI Solver

Stylized AI Paper Writer

Plagiarism Checker Assistant

Citation AI Academic Writing Tool

In-Class Translation Assistant

AI Note Generator

AI Quiz Answers

Past Exam Questions from University Test Bank

Smart Practice Assistant

Adaptive Practice

Making Your Study Simpler