1
Certified Diabetes Educator Exam Questions with
Answers (100% Correct Answers)
Alcohol + insulin or sulfonylurea = Answer: hypoglycemia
Alcohol + metformin = Answer: lactic acidosis
Intermittent claudication Answer: lower extremity pain that occurs
during physical activity such as walking and subsides with rest
Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) Answer: this measures blood pressure in the
ankle and at the arm while the client is at rest, and then is repeated 5
minutes after walking on a treadmill
a normal ABI means what? Answer: Normally, the pressure at both the
ankle and the arm should be approximately the same.
A person with peripheral artery disease (PAD) would have an ABI of
what ? Answer: In PAD, ankle pressures are lower than arm pressures,
indicating narrowing of the arteries.
Which has a high blood glucose value: whole blood or plasma? Answer:
Plasma has a high value than whole blood.
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,2
does a meter calibrate to plasma values or whole blood values?
Answer: most meters are programmed to calibrate results to conform
to plasma values
What information does a food diary include? Answer: everything that
he/she eats in a given period of time, foods eaten, approx. amounts,
time of day, situation in which eating occurred, and record of exercise
Do you reduce rapid or short-acting insulin prior to exercise? If so, how
much? Answer: reducing by 30-50% effectively decreases risk of
hypoglycemia
Do you reduce intermediate-acting insulin when you are planning to
exercise? If so, by how much? Answer: reducing by 10% is
recommended
What is an example of intermediate acting insulin? Answer: Insulin NPH,
Novolin N, Humulin N
how intense should exercise be? Answer: For best results, exercise
should be 60-85% of the client's age-adjusted heart rate
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,3
Equation used to estimate age-adjusted heart rate: Answer: 220 -
client's age = estimated age-adjusted heart rate
Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Answer: This is used to assess
exercise intensity. This is a subjective measure in which the client rates
how intense the exercise feels on a scale of 1-10. **An exertion level of
2 (weak) to 5 (strong) is recommended.
How to check meter accuracy: Answer: meter accuracy should be
checked against lab values, not against another meter. Lab test used
for comparison should be fasting plasma glucose test and should be
taken at the same time as the meter test.
When would a type 2 diabetic monitor for ketones? Answer: during an
illness, when an infection is present, or when they are on hypocaloric
weight loss diets
Eligibility criteria for Medicare: Answer: -Age over 65
-Disabled, any age
-End stage renal disease, any age
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, 4
Medicare Part A Answer: Covers hospital, skilled nursing, home health
or hospice. Beneficiary pays deductible
Medicare Part B Answer: Covers physician office visits, outpatient
services, lab costs, equipment and supplies. This part is elective and the
beneficiary pays the premiums.
Medicare Part C (a.k.a. Medicare Advantage) Answer: covers extra days
in the hospital. Not available in all areas; it provides an option for some
to avoid purchasing "MediGap" insurance to fill gaps in Medicare
coverage. Beneficiary pays a monthly premium.
Indemnity plans (a.k.a. fee-for-service plans) Answer: This plan
reimburses the beneficiary after medical expenses have been incurred.
Claim forms are used. Must first pay an annual deductible, then the
insurer pays a percentage (often 80%) of the incurred expenses. Also
offers the consumer free choice of healthcare provider
Acronym "SMART" used to develop behavioral goals: Answer: S -
Specific - what the person will do
M - Measurable - how much/how often/how many
© 2025 All rights reserved
Certified Diabetes Educator Exam Questions with
Answers (100% Correct Answers)
Alcohol + insulin or sulfonylurea = Answer: hypoglycemia
Alcohol + metformin = Answer: lactic acidosis
Intermittent claudication Answer: lower extremity pain that occurs
during physical activity such as walking and subsides with rest
Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) Answer: this measures blood pressure in the
ankle and at the arm while the client is at rest, and then is repeated 5
minutes after walking on a treadmill
a normal ABI means what? Answer: Normally, the pressure at both the
ankle and the arm should be approximately the same.
A person with peripheral artery disease (PAD) would have an ABI of
what ? Answer: In PAD, ankle pressures are lower than arm pressures,
indicating narrowing of the arteries.
Which has a high blood glucose value: whole blood or plasma? Answer:
Plasma has a high value than whole blood.
© 2025 All rights reserved
,2
does a meter calibrate to plasma values or whole blood values?
Answer: most meters are programmed to calibrate results to conform
to plasma values
What information does a food diary include? Answer: everything that
he/she eats in a given period of time, foods eaten, approx. amounts,
time of day, situation in which eating occurred, and record of exercise
Do you reduce rapid or short-acting insulin prior to exercise? If so, how
much? Answer: reducing by 30-50% effectively decreases risk of
hypoglycemia
Do you reduce intermediate-acting insulin when you are planning to
exercise? If so, by how much? Answer: reducing by 10% is
recommended
What is an example of intermediate acting insulin? Answer: Insulin NPH,
Novolin N, Humulin N
how intense should exercise be? Answer: For best results, exercise
should be 60-85% of the client's age-adjusted heart rate
© 2025 All rights reserved
,3
Equation used to estimate age-adjusted heart rate: Answer: 220 -
client's age = estimated age-adjusted heart rate
Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE) Answer: This is used to assess
exercise intensity. This is a subjective measure in which the client rates
how intense the exercise feels on a scale of 1-10. **An exertion level of
2 (weak) to 5 (strong) is recommended.
How to check meter accuracy: Answer: meter accuracy should be
checked against lab values, not against another meter. Lab test used
for comparison should be fasting plasma glucose test and should be
taken at the same time as the meter test.
When would a type 2 diabetic monitor for ketones? Answer: during an
illness, when an infection is present, or when they are on hypocaloric
weight loss diets
Eligibility criteria for Medicare: Answer: -Age over 65
-Disabled, any age
-End stage renal disease, any age
© 2025 All rights reserved
, 4
Medicare Part A Answer: Covers hospital, skilled nursing, home health
or hospice. Beneficiary pays deductible
Medicare Part B Answer: Covers physician office visits, outpatient
services, lab costs, equipment and supplies. This part is elective and the
beneficiary pays the premiums.
Medicare Part C (a.k.a. Medicare Advantage) Answer: covers extra days
in the hospital. Not available in all areas; it provides an option for some
to avoid purchasing "MediGap" insurance to fill gaps in Medicare
coverage. Beneficiary pays a monthly premium.
Indemnity plans (a.k.a. fee-for-service plans) Answer: This plan
reimburses the beneficiary after medical expenses have been incurred.
Claim forms are used. Must first pay an annual deductible, then the
insurer pays a percentage (often 80%) of the incurred expenses. Also
offers the consumer free choice of healthcare provider
Acronym "SMART" used to develop behavioral goals: Answer: S -
Specific - what the person will do
M - Measurable - how much/how often/how many
© 2025 All rights reserved
