What is the consequence of insulin deficiency or resistance?

Insulin plays a crucial role in regulating blood glucose levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells and promoting its use for energy or storage. When there is an insulin deficiency, such as in type 1 diabetes, or when the body becomes resistant to insulin, as seen in type 2 diabetes, glucose cannot effectively enter the cells. This leads to an accumulation of glucose in the bloodstream, resulting in hyperglycemia.

In cases of insulin deficiency or resistance, not only does blood glucose levels rise, but the cells also lack the substrate required for energy production. This can lead to a catabolic state, where the body begins to break down fats for energy, a process that leads to the production of ketones. The accumulation of ketone bodies can result in a condition called ketoacidosis, which is a serious and potentially life-threatening complication associated with uncontrolled diabetes, particularly type 1 diabetes.

Thus, the presence of hyperglycemia alongside the production of ketones due to increased fat metabolism definitively leads to the condition known as hyperglycemic ketoacidosis. This combination makes the correct answer the one that identifies both hyperglycemia and ketoacidosis as direct consequences of insulin deficiency or resistance.