Which condition is characterized by high blood sugar levels due to inadequate insulin?

The condition characterized by high blood sugar levels due to inadequate insulin is diabetes mellitus, which encompasses a group of metabolic disorders with hyperglycemia as a common feature. In diabetes mellitus, the body either does not produce enough insulin or cannot effectively use the insulin it produces, leading to elevated glucose levels in the bloodstream.

Chronic hyperglycemia in diabetes can result in serious complications affecting the eyes, kidneys, nerves, and cardiovascular system. The disease is often diagnosed when blood glucose levels are consistently higher than normal, indicating that the insulin response is inadequate to keep blood sugar levels within a healthy range.

While hyperglycemia refers specifically to the condition of having high blood sugar levels, it is a clinical manifestation of diabetes and not a diagnosis by itself. Hypoglycemia refers to low blood sugar levels, which is the opposite condition. Insulin resistance describes a state where the body's cells do not respond adequately to insulin, often found in type 2 diabetes, but it does not encompass the complete spectrum of insufficient insulin secretion that is characteristic of diabetes mellitus. Therefore, the most accurate answer reflecting high blood sugar due to inadequate insulin is diabetes mellitus.