IDDM stands for which phrase?

• A. Immune Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
• B. Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
• C. Islet-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
• D. Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Answer: (B)

IDDM refers to diabetes that requires insulin treatment because the body cannot produce enough insulin on its own. This is the form usually associated with Type 1 diabetes, where autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells leads to absolute insulin deficiency.

The phrase given here matches Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus, which communicates the need for external insulin to control blood glucose. The other terms aren’t standard names for this condition: “Immune Dependent” isn’t the conventional descriptor, and “Islet-Dependent” doesn’t convey the essential issue of insulin lack. The hyphenated variant Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus is essentially the same idea, but the form used in this choice set is Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus. This is distinguished from non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM), where insulin therapy is not required initially and type 2 diabetes may involve insulin resistance rather than absolute insulin deficiency.