The IELTS Reading section has different passages. Each one comes with questions. These questions test how well you understand the text, spot small details, and catch ideas written in different words. This page covers the reading answers about diabetes in full detail.
The Diabetes Reading Passage explains what diabetes is. It talks about glucose and why the body needs it. It also explains insulin and what happens when the body can't use it properly. There are two types of diabetes here. Type 1 means the body makes little or no insulin. Type 2 means the body either doesn't make enough insulin or the cells just stop responding to it. The passage has 4 paragraphs. It comes with 14 questions.
This text is known as IELTS Academic Reading Mock Test 171. You'll find it used across many IELTS practice sites as a standard test passage. So if you're checking the diabetes reading answers for this version, this is the right passage and question set.
The questions test a few different skills. Some ask you to spot facts stated directly. Some test if you can tell apart similar-sounding ideas. Others ask you to match sentence endings correctly. And some check if you can spot symptoms written in technical words. If you're looking for the IELTS reading diabetes answers for this exact test, this set matches it.
Diabetes IELTS Reading Passage
An IELTS Reading passage is a short text that you read to find information, understand ideas, and answer questions based on the text. Diabetes is one such passage from the IELTS exam, with questions that require you to locate details, follow ideas, and understand technical terms written in plain language.
Before you begin, here is a simple strategy that can help you read the passage with more purpose.
Read the questions first, then the passage, and return to the questions again.
This helps you know what to look for while reading. Instead of giving equal attention to every line, you can focus on the terms, numbers, and ideas linked to the questions. Once you finish the passage, go back to the questions and use what you noticed to find the answers faster.
Now, read the passage carefully with the questions in mind. If you're looking for the cure for diabetes IELTS reading answers, that part comes up directly in Paragraph D.
Diabetes Reading Passage
Paragraph A: Diabetes is the term given to a set of various disorders that occur when there is excessive glucose present in the blood. Here's what tends to happen: Our body requires glucose as its key source of fuel or energy. The body produces glucose from meals containing carbohydrates such as starchy vegetables (like potatoes or maize) and cereal foods (such as bread, pasta, and rice), along with fruits and milk. Blood transports glucose throughout the body, and the amount of glucose is termed "glycemia." Glycemia (blood sugar levels) in people and animals must be absolutely perfect, neither too high nor too low. In order for the glucose to enter the body tissues, it must first leave the bloodstream, where it is already present. This is when insulin enters the picture. The pancreas, a gland situated right below the stomach, produces the hormone insulin. Insulin unlocks the door that allows glucose from the blood to enter the body cells, where it is converted into energy. This process is termed glucose metabolism. In diabetes, the pancreas either cannot produce insulin or produces insufficient insulin, which is futile. The glucose pathways are closed if insulin isn't working as it ought to. Blood glucose levels rise as a result of glucose buildup, which leads to diabetes-related medical conditions.
Paragraph B: People may refer to the illness as diabetes, though there are two forms of the disease. High blood glucose levels caused by the absence of insulin are a characteristic of type 1 diabetes. It happens when the pancreas's insulin-producing beta cells are attacked and destroyed by the body's immune system. Consequently, the pancreas yields little or no insulin. Although it may appear in adults, type 1 diabetes often emerges in young individuals. The most prevalent kind of diabetes is type 2. In type 2 diabetes, the cells will either not react to the insulin or the body will not create enough of it. For the body to be able to fully utilise sugar, it needs insulin. The primary source of energy for the body's cells is sugar, which insulin carries from the blood to the cells.
Paragraph C: Diabetes is usually diagnosed based on the type of diabetes that the patient has. Type 1 diabetes is typically detected fairly early since the symptoms are often sudden and perhaps even life-threatening; hyperglycemia (high blood sugar levels) may lead to comas. Many patients with type 2 diabetes exhibit no symptoms at all, whereas other symptoms may go overlooked since they are considered a typical feature of "growing older." As a result, many people's blood sugar levels could be incredibly high by the time symptoms appear. Common signs and symptoms include excessive thirst, excessive urination, being tired, constant hunger, slower wound healing, itching, skin infections, bad breath, blurred vision, unexplained weight changes, mood swings, migraines, dizziness, and leg cramps.
Paragraph D: There is no cure for diabetes at the moment, though there is a significant amount of research being done to discover one and to provide better treatment strategies and solutions until a solution is found. Each diabetes treatment aims to get your blood sugars into the non-diabetic range as often as possible, irrespective of whether you suffer from Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. For patients with Type 1 diabetes, this will involve daily injections of insulin as well as living a healthy lifestyle. For people who have Type 2 diabetes, healthy food and regular physical exercise may be all that is necessary initially; however, medications and perhaps insulin may be required later on. Frequent self-testing is recommended in order to maintain blood glucose levels as close as possible to the non-diabetic range. This could help avoid any short-term impacts of either low or excessively high blood sugar levels, as well as potential long-term issues.
Diabetes Reading Answers: Q & A with Explanations
The diabetes reading answers cover 14 questions in total. They come in three formats. The first seven are Yes/No/Not Given. Then, four are Matching Sentence Endings. The last three are Multiple Choice. Most students don't lose marks because the questions are hard. They lose marks because they mix up what each format is actually asking for.
These are the diabetes reading answers with location included, so every answer below comes with its paragraph number and a short reason from the text. So when two options look almost the same, you'll know exactly what makes one right and the other wrong.
Questions 1–7 Yes/No/Not Given Answers and Explanations
These diabetes reading answers with location show you exactly where each answer sits in the passage, so don't just grab one matching word and move on. Read the full sentence around it first. Then decide if the passage agrees, disagrees, or just doesn't say.
Q1: Carbohydrate foods are the body's source of glucose.
Answer: YES
Explanation: The passage says the body gets glucose from carbohydrate foods. It names potatoes, corn, bread, pasta, rice, fruit, and milk. That's a clear match.
Q2: Diabetics cannot produce insulin.
Answer: NO
Explanation: The passage says the pancreas either can't make insulin or doesn't make enough. It never says production stops completely. So this one's NO.
Q3: Some patients develop diabetes due to faults in their own immune systems.
Answer: YES
Explanation: Type 1 diabetes happens when the immune system attacks the cells that make insulin. That's an immune system fault, plain and simple.
Q4: Hyperglycaemia leads to type 1 diabetes being diagnosed quite quickly.
Answer: YES
Explanation: Type 1 symptoms show up fast. High blood sugar can even cause comas. That's why doctors catch it quickly.
Q5: Artificial insulin is the most effective treatment for those patients requiring insulin.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: The passage mentions insulin injections and lifestyle changes, and also says there's no cure for diabetes yet. If you're checking the cure for diabetes reading answers here, Paragraph D confirms research is ongoing, but no cure exists so far. The passage never ranks one treatment as better than another either.
Q6: Frequent checkups with the doctor can drastically reduce the chances of suffering from problems related to diabetes.
Answer: NOT GIVEN
Explanation: The passage talks about testing your own blood glucose at home. Doctor checkups don't come up anywhere.
Q7: The majority of diabetics develop heart problems or suffer strokes.
Answer: YES
Explanation: The passage says 2 out of 3 people with diabetes eventually die from these complications. That's well over half.
Questions 8–11 Matching Sentence Endings Answers and Explanations
Before you scan the options, think about what kind of word fits. Is it a cause? A group of people? A treatment? That alone helps you skip the wrong ones faster.
Options: A. a healthy lifestyle, B. never suffer any ill effects, C. women, D. people also suffering strokes, E. body cells, F. the pancreas, G. do not realise the fact, H. injections
Q8: Bizarre as it may seem, many people with diabetes…
Answer: G (do not realise the fact)
Explanation: Over 1 million Australians have diabetes. Half of them don't even know it. That's the strange part this sentence is pointing to.
Q9: Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose to be absorbed by…
Answer: E (body cells)
Explanation: Insulin opens the door for glucose to move from the blood into the body's cells. Straightforward match.
Q10: Non-severe type 2 diabetes can be solely treated by…
Answer: A (a healthy lifestyle)
Explanation: For Type 2 diabetes, eating well and staying active may be enough on its own, at least in the beginning.
Q11: Increases in diabetes-related heart problems are mainly seen in…
Answer: C (women)
Explanation: Young women account for almost all of the rise in heart attack risk tied to diabetes. So this points to women specifically.
Questions 12–14 Multiple Choice Answers and Explanations
Only three answers here, but don't rush. A few of the wrong options sound close enough to trip you up.
Q12–14: According to the text, which of the following are symptoms of diabetes? Choose THREE letters. A. hot flushes B. muscle pains C. nausea D. losing consciousness E. tiredness F. bleeding gums G. dilation of the eyes
Answer: B, E, D (muscle pains, tiredness, losing consciousness)
Explanation: Leg cramps show up in the passage, and that counts as muscle pain. Feeling lethargic means feeling tired. And feeling dizzy can lead to losing consciousness. Hot flushes, nausea, bleeding gums, and eye dilation just aren't in the passage anywhere.
This passage uses words like insulin, glucose, and pancreas a lot. If those feel unfamiliar, don't worry. You don't need medical knowledge here. You just need to follow how the passage explains things, step by step.
Most students don't lose marks because this passage is hard. They lose marks because they rush past the medical words instead of reading them carefully, especially around the cure for diabetes IELTS reading answers portion in Paragraph D.
Use Medical and Scientific Terms as Scanning Clues
Words like insulin, pancreas, and glucose don't show up everywhere. They're specific. That makes them easy to spot.
See "insulin" in a question? Scan the passage for that word first
Same goes for the pancreas, glucose, and hyperglycaemia
These words don't repeat randomly, so they lead you straight to the right paragraph
Sometimes the question uses a simpler word instead. Can't find "hyperglycaemia"? Try "high blood sugar." Same thing, easier words.
Follow Cause-and-Effect Relationships
This passage runs on cause and effect. No insulin, high glucose. High glucose, health problems. Once you follow that chain, the passage makes sense fast.
Type 1 happens because the immune system destroys insulin-making cells
Type 2 happens because the body doesn't make enough insulin, or ignores it
Don't mix these two up. Questions test this difference often
Read the full sentence around any cause or effect. Not just the part that looks right.
Look for Paraphrased Information
The passage and the questions rarely use the same words. Hunt for an exact phrase, and you might miss the answer sitting right there.
Passage says: "the cells ignore the insulin"
Question says: "cells do not respond to insulin"
Same meaning, just written differently
This happens throughout the whole passage, and not just once. So scan for the idea, not the exact wording. Ask what the sentence means, not what it says word for word.
Most students who lose marks here already understood the passage just fine, including the cure for diabetes reading answers section, which is often skimmed too fast. It's usually one of these small habits that quietly gets in the way.
✗ Common Mistake
✓ What to Do Instead
Mixing up the causes of Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes
Check which type the question is about, then match the cause carefully. Type 1 comes from the immune system attacking insulin cells, Type 2 comes from not enough insulin or cells ignoring it
Picking an answer just because one word matches
Read the full sentence around that word. A matching word can still point to the wrong answer if the meaning doesn't fit
Searching only for the exact words used in the question
Look for the same idea in different words, like "cells ignore insulin" meaning "cells do not respond to insulin"
Missing the word limit in an answer
Check the instructions above the question first. A correct answer still gets marked wrong if it goes over the limit
Rushing past similar-sounding symptoms
Slow down when the passage lists several symptoms close together, like tiredness, dizziness, and muscle pains
Take one more look at your answers before submitting, especially where the passage lists similar symptoms or explains both diabetes types close together.
Looking for more IELTS Reading practice? Read these answer guides to practise different passage topics and question types:
A good reading score isn't about knowing fancy words. It's about reading smart, even when the clock is running. Whether you're going through the reading answers of diabetes or any other passage, these habits make a real difference once you actually build them in.
Read the question slowly first, before you even touch the passage
Pick out strong keywords, medical terms work great here since they don't repeat much
Scan for details instead of rereading the whole passage every single time
Don't just search for exact words; look for the same idea said differently
Check the full sentence before locking in an answer, not just one word that caught your eye
Stick to the word limit, always, even if a longer answer feels more complete
When you get something wrong, don't just move on; figure out why it was wrong
Practice similar passages with a timer running; speed comes with repetition, not overnight
Small habits like these add up fast. You don't need to change how you read overnight; just fix one habit at a time and the score follows.
Working through the reading answers of diabetes really comes down to one thing: knowing what each question type wants before you even start hunting for words in the passage. That's the real skill here, not just memorising the answer key.
Yes/No/Not Given needs careful reading of what's actually said, not what feels implied, and that's especially true for the cure for diabetes IELTS reading answers, since Paragraph D only says research is ongoing, not that a cure exists. Matching Sentence Endings needs you to check both meaning and grammar before locking in a letter.
Here's the full diabetes reading answer key one more time for quick reference:
Q1: YES
Q2: NO
Q3: YES
Q4: YES
Q5: NOT GIVEN
Q6: NOT GIVEN
Q7: YES
Q8: G
Q9: E
Q10: A
Q11: C
Q12: B
Q13: E
Q14: D
A few things matter most here:
Knowing which question type you're solving before you start scanning
Locating specific information instead of going off memory
Catching paraphrased wording instead of hunting for exact matches
Reading the full sentence around a keyword, not just the keyword itself
Sticking to word limits and instructions exactly as given
Checking your answer against the passage once more before moving on
If you're prepping for this passage or similar ones, try these next:
Practise a few more Yes/No/Not Given and Matching passages
Lean on what's written in the text, not assumptions or outside knowledge
Time yourself while solving; it helps with both speed and accuracy
Go back over every wrong answer and figure out where it slipped, don't just memorise the right one
The passage explains what diabetes is, how glucose and insulin work together in the body, and the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes. It also covers symptoms, diagnosis, and current treatment options, including why there's still no cure for diabetes at this point.
How many questions are in the Diabetes Reading passage?
There are 14 questions in total, spread across three formats. Questions 1 to 7 are Yes/No/Not Given, questions 8 to 11 are Matching Sentence Endings, and questions 12 to 14 are Multiple Choice, where you pick three correct symptoms from a list of seven options.
Where can I find diabetes reading answers with location?
Every answer in this guide comes with its exact paragraph location, so you can trace it back to the passage yourself. This makes it easier to understand why an answer is correct, instead of just memorising the letter or word.
Is there a cure for diabetes according to the IELTS reading answers?
No. The passage clearly states there's no cure for diabetes at the moment, though research is ongoing to find better treatments. This detail comes up in Paragraph D and is worth remembering if a question touches on treatment or management.
What question types appear in the Diabetes IELTS Reading passage?
The passage uses three formats: Yes/No/Not Given for the first seven questions, Matching Sentence Endings for the next four, and Multiple Choice for the last three. Each format tests a different reading skill, from spotting facts to matching ideas correctly.
How do I approach Yes/No/Not Given questions in this passage?
Read the full sentence around any matching word before deciding. Check whether the passage agrees with the statement, contradicts it, or simply doesn't mention it at all. Guessing based on one word is the most common reason students get these wrong.
Why do the reading answers of diabetes use paraphrased wording?
IELTS rarely repeats the exact words from the passage in its questions. For example, "cells ignore the insulin" in the passage might appear as "cells do not respond to insulin" in a question. Recognising these reworded ideas is a core reading skill being tested.
How can I avoid common mistakes in the Diabetes Reading answers?
Slow down around symptoms and treatment details, since they're often listed close together and can look similar. Don't rely on one matching word, always confirm with the full sentence, and double check word limits before finalising any answer.
What's the difference between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes in this passage?
Type 1 happens when the immune system attacks and destroys insulin-producing cells. Type 2 happens when the body doesn't make enough insulin, or when cells stop responding to it properly. Mixing up these causes is a common reason for wrong answers.
How can I improve my score using the Diabetes Reading answers?
Practice reading the questions before the passage, scan for medical terms as anchor points, and always verify your answer against the actual text. Reviewing wrong answers and understanding why they were wrong helps more than memorising the answer key alone.
Are these diabetes reading answers accurate for all versions of the passage?
This set matches IELTS Academic Reading Mock Test 171, widely used across practice platforms. If your version has different paragraph labels or question numbers, cross-check the passage content itself rather than assuming the answer key applies directly.
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