(1) There are two types of diabetes,
insulin-dependent and non-insulin-dependent. Between 90 and 95 percent
of the estimated 13 to 14 million people in the United States with diabetes have
non-insulin-dependent, or Type II, diabetes. Because this form of
diabetes usually begins in adults over the age of 40 and is most common after
the age of 55, it used to be called adult-onset diabetes. Its symptoms
often develop gradually and are hard to identify at first; therefore, nearly
half of all people with diabetes do not know they have it. Someone who
has developed Type II diabetes may feel tired or ill without knowing why, a
circumstance which can be particularly dangerous because untreated diabetes
can cause damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
While the causes, short-term effects, and treatments of the two types of
diabetes differ, both types can cause the same long-term health problems.
(2) Most importantly, both types of
diabetes affect the body's ability to use digested food for energy.
Diabetes does not interfere with digestion, but it does prevent the body from
using an important product of digestion, glucose (commonly known as sugar),
for energy. After a meal, the normal digestive system extracts glucose
from some foods. The blood carries the glucose or sugar throughout the
body, causing blood glucose levels to rise. In response to this rise,
the hormone insulin is released into the bloodstream and signals the body
tissues to metabolize or burn the glucose for fuel, which causes blood
glucose levels to return to normal. The glucose that the body does not
use right away is stored in the liver, muscle, or fat.
(3) In both types of diabetes, this normal
process malfunctions. A gland called the pancreas, found just behind the
stomach, makes insulin. In patients with insulin-dependent diabetes,
the pancreas does not produce insulin at all. This condition usually
begins in childhood and is known as Type I (formerly called juvenile-onset)
diabetes. These patients must have daily insulin injections to
survive. People with non-insulin-dependent diabetes usually produce
some insulin in their pancreas, but the body's tissues do not respond very
well to the insulin signal and therefore do not metabolize the glucose
properly—a condition known as insulin resistance.
(4) Insulin resistance is an important
factor in non-insulin-dependent diabetes, and scientists are researching the
causes of insulin resistance. They have identified two
possibilities. The first is that there could be a defect in the insulin
receptors on cells. Like an appliance that needs to be plugged into an
electrical outlet, insulin has to bind to a receptor in order to
function. Several things can go wrong with receptors. For
example, there may not be enough receptors for insulin to bind to, or a
defect in the receptors may prevent insulin from binding. The second
possible cause of insulin resistance is that, although insulin may bind to
the receptors, the cells may not read the signal to metabolize the glucose.
Scientists continue to study these cells to see why this might happen.
(5) There is no cure for diabetes
yet. However, there are ways to alleviate its symptoms. In 1986,
a National Institutes of Health panel of experts recommended that the best
treatment for non-insulin-dependent diabetes is a diet that helps one
maintain a normal weight and pays particular attention to a proper balance of
the different food groups. Many experts, including those in the
American Diabetes Association, recommend that 50 to 60 percent of daily
calories come from carbohydrates, 12 to 20 percent from protein, and no more
than 30 percent from fat. Foods that are rich in carbohydrates, such as
breads, cereals, fruits, and vegetables, break down into glucose during
digestion, causing blood glucose to rise. Additionally, studies have
shown that cooked foods raise blood glucose higher than raw, unpeeled
foods. A doctor or nutritionist should always be consulted for more
information and for help in planning a diet to offset the effects of
this form of diabetes.
31.
According to the
passage, what may be the most dangerous aspect of Type II diabetes?
A.
B.
C.
D.
32.
Which of the
following are the same for Type I and Type II diabetes?
A.
B.
C.
D.
33.
According to
the passage, one place in which excess glucose is stored is the
A.
B.
C.
D.
34.
A diet
dominated by which of the following is recommended for
non-insulin-dependent diabetics?
A.
B.
C.
D.
35.
Which
of the following is the main function of insulin?
A.
B.
C.
D.
36.
Which
of the following statements best summarizes the main
idea of the passage?
A.
B.
C.
D.
37.
Which
of the following is mentioned in the passage as a
possible problem with insulin receptors in
insulin-resistant individuals?
A.
B.
C.
D.
38.
According to the passage, in normal
individuals which of
the following processes occur immediately after
the digestive system converts some food into
glucose?
A.
B.
C.
D.
39.
Based on the
information in the passage, which of the
following best describes people with Type I
diabetes?
A.
B.
C.
D.
40.
What is the
closest meaning of the word “offset” in
the final sentence of the passage?
A.
B.
C.
D.
41.
According to the
passage, the most typical symptom of
Type II diabetes is
A.
B.
C.
D.
ANSWER KEY
31.
According to the
passage, what may be the most dangerous
aspect of Type II diabetes?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation:
The first
paragraph mentions that the symptoms of
Type II diabetes may occur gradually
and thus be attributed to other
causes. Left untreated, diabetes
can cause damage to several major
organs in the body.
Section:
ACT Reading Test
Subsection:
Inference
32.
Which of the
following are the same for Type I and
Type II diabetes?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation:
According to the
end of the first paragraph, only the
long-term health problems are the same
for these two different disorders.
Section:
ACT Reading Test
Subsection:
Specific Fact or Detail
33.
According to the
passage, one place in which excess
glucose is stored is the
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation:
Paragraph 2
mentions that when the body has more
glucose than needed, it stores the
overflow in muscle tissue, fat, or the
liver.
Section:
ACT Reading Test
Subsection:
Specific Fact or Detail
34.
A diet dominated
by which of the following is
recommended for non-insulin-dependent
diabetics?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation:
According to the
last paragraph, non-insulin dependent
diabetics should stick to a diet
consisting of 50 to 60 percent
carbohydrates.
Section:
ACT Reading Test
Subsection:
Specific Fact or Detail
35.
Which of the
following is the main function of
insulin?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation:
The second
paragraph states that insulin signals the
body tissues to metabolize or burn the
glucose.
Section:
ACT Reading Test
Subsection:
Specific Fact or Detail
36.
Which of the
following statements best summarizes
the main idea of the passage?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation:
Type II, or
non-insulin-dependent, diabetes is the main
subject of the passage, which
distinguishes Type II from Type I and
goes on to stress the importance of
diet.
Section:
ACT Reading Test
Subsection:
Main Idea
37.
Which of the
following is mentioned in the passage as
a possible problem with insulin
receptors in insulin-resistant
individuals?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation:
The fourth
paragraph of the passage says that
possible problems with insulin
receptors include a paucity of
receptors or a defect causing improper
binding of the insulin to the
receptors. In addition, even
though insulin may bind to its
receptors, cells may fail to read the
signal to metabolize the glucose.
Section:
ACT Reading Test
Subsection:
Specific Fact or Detail
38.
According to the
passage, in normal individuals which of the
following processes occur immediately
after the digestive system converts
some food into glucose?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation:
The second
paragraph states that normally, after
the digestive system breaks down food
into smaller molecules, including
glucose (otherwise known as sugar), the
blood sugar level rises. Insulin
is then released from the pancreas,
thus signaling tissues to metabolize
the glucose.
Section:
ACT Reading Test
Subsection:
Specific Fact or Detail
39.
Based on the
information in the passage, which of
the following best describes people
with Type I diabetes?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation:
Type I diabetes is
the insulin-dependent form of this
condition. The minority of
diabetics are afflicted with this
form. They are diagnosed as
children and must take daily injections
of insulin to make up for what their pancreases
do not produce.
Section:
ACT Reading Test
Subsection:
Inference
40.
What is the
closest meaning of the word “offset” in
the final sentence of the passage?
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation:
The final
paragraph says that there is no cure
for diabetes, so choices B and
D
are incorrect. Choice C is
a possibility, but consider the
sense of the word soothe.
It does not fit with the objective tone
of the passage nearly as well as the
word counteract.
Section:
ACT Reading Test
Subsection:
Vocabulary.
41.
According to the
passage, the most typical symptom of
Type II diabetes is
A.
B.
C.
D.
Explanation:
Paragraph 1 states
that someone who has developed Type II
diabetes may feel tired without knowing
why.
