A patient exhibits resistance to insulin due to prolonged elevated levels. What distinguishes the downstream signaling in cells exposed to excessive insulin from cells with normal insulin sensitivity?

💡 Explanation

Insulin resistance arises when prolonged high insulin levels desensitize cells. This is because the cells reduce signaling via decreased IRS-1 tyrosine phosphorylation, a key step in the insulin signaling pathway, therefore, glucose uptake is diminished, rather than increased internalization or other actions.

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