Type 2 diabetes mellitus is primarily characterized by which of the following?

Type 2 diabetes mellitus is primarily characterized by resistance to insulin by insulin-sensitive tissues such as muscle, fat, and liver. In this condition, even though the pancreas may produce insulin, the body's cells do not respond effectively to it, which leads to impaired glucose uptake and utilization. Over time, this insulin resistance causes the pancreatic beta cells to work harder to produce more insulin to compensate for the reduced effectiveness, and eventually, the beta cells may become dysfunctional, leading to decreased insulin production.

The underlying mechanism involves various factors, including obesity, genetics, and inactivity, which contribute to insulin resistance. This is a key feature of type 2 diabetes and is often associated with metabolic syndrome.

The other options do not accurately represent the primary characteristic of type 2 diabetes. Option A refers to type 1 diabetes, which is caused by an autoimmune attack on pancreatic beta cells, leading to their destruction, and is not a prominent feature of type 2 diabetes. Option C mentions glucagon, which is typically elevated in insulin-resistant states but is not the primary characteristic of type 2 diabetes. Option D suggests increased production of regular insulin, which may occur eventually as a compensatory mechanism but is not the defining trait of the disease. The hallmark of type 2