First Aid for Corrections Officers Practice Test

What is diabetes known to influence in the body?

1. How the body processes medications

2. How the body turns food into energy

3. How the body absorbs water

4. How the body fights infections

The correct answer is: How the body turns food into energy

Diabetes is primarily known to influence how the body turns food into energy. This condition directly affects the body's ability to produce or respond to insulin, a hormone essential for converting glucose from food into energy. When insulin is insufficient or the body becomes resistant to its effects, glucose levels in the blood can rise, leading to unchecked energy production and utilization. In healthy individuals, insulin facilitates the uptake of glucose into cells, allowing the body to use it for energy. In contrast, in people with diabetes, this process is disrupted. The consequence is that the body may not efficiently turn food into usable energy, which can lead to a range of symptoms and complications, including fatigue, increased hunger, and weight changes. Other options, although related to bodily functions, are not directly influenced by diabetes in the same primary manner. For instance, while diabetes can affect the immune system and, consequently, the body's ability to fight infections, the direct and most significant impact is on energy metabolism.