Diabetes Practice Questions
C - correct answer-A patient with type 1 diabetes has told the nurse that his most recent
urine test for ketones was positive. What is the nurses most plausible conclusion based on
this assessment finding?
A) The patient should withhold his next scheduled dose of insulin.
B) The patient should promptly eat some protein and carbohydrates.
C) The patients insulin levels are inadequate.
D) The patient would benefit from a dose of metformin (Glucophage).
A - correct answer-A patient presents to the clinic complaining of symptoms that suggest
diabetes. What criteria would support checking blood levels for the diagnosis of diabetes?
A) Fasting plasma glucose greater than or equal to 126 mg/dL
B) Random plasma glucose greater than 150 mg/dL
C) Fasting plasma glucose greater than 116 mg/dL on 2 separate occasions
D) Random plasma glucose greater than 126 mg/dL
C - correct answer-A patient newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is attending a nutrition
class. What general guideline would be important to teach the patients at this class?
A) Low fat generally indicates low sugar.
B. Protein should constitute 30% to 40% of caloric intake.
C. Most calories should be derived from carbohydrates.
D. Animal fats should be eliminated from the diet.
C - correct answer-A nurse is providing health education to an adolescent newly diagnosed
with type 1 diabetes mellitus and her family. The nurse teaches the patient and family that
which of the following nonpharmacologic measures will decrease the bodys need for insulin?
A. Adequate sleep
B. Low stimulation
C. Exercise
D. Low-fat diet
B - correct answer-A medical nurse is caring for a patient with type 1 diabetes. The patients
medication administration record includes the administration of regular insulin three times
daily. Knowing that the patients lunch tray will arrive at 11:45, when should the nurse
administer the patients insulin?
A. 10:45
B. 11:15
C. 11:45
D. 11:50
A - correct answer-A diabetes nurse educator is teaching a group of patients with type 1
diabetes about sick day rules. What guideline applies to periods of illness in a diabetic
patient?
A) Do not eliminate insulin when nauseated and vomiting.
B) Report elevated glucose levels greater than 150 mg/dL.
, C) Eat three substantial meals a day, if possible.
D) Reduce food intake and insulin doses in times of illness.
B - correct answer-The nurse is discussing macrovascular complications of diabetes with a
patient. The nurse would address
what
topic during this dialogue?
A. The need for frequent eye examinations for patients with diabetes
B. The fact that patients with diabetes have an elevated risk of myocardial infarction
C. The relationship between kidney function and blood glucose levels
D. The need to monitor urine for the presence of albumin
B - correct answer-An occupational health nurse is screening a group of workers for
diabetes. What statement should the nurse interpret as suggestive of diabetes?
Test Bank - Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017)
965
A) Ive always been a fan of sweet foods, but lately Im turned off by them.
B) Lately, I drink and drink and cant seem to quench my thirst.
C) No matter how much sleep I get, it seems to take me hours to wake up.
D) When I went to the washroom the last few days, my urine smelled odd.
D - correct answer-An older adult patient with type 2 diabetes is brought to the emergency
department by his daughter. The patient is found to have a blood glucose level of 623 mg/dL.
The patients daughter reports that the patient recently had a gastrointestinal virus and has
been confused for the last 3 hours. The diagnosis of hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome
(HHS) is made. What nursing action would be a priority?
A) Administration of antihypertensive medications
B) Administering sodium bicarbonate intravenously
C) Reversing acidosis by administering insulin
D) Fluid and electrolyte replacement
D - correct answer-A medical nurse is aware of the need to screen specific patients for their
risk of hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHS). In what patient population does
hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome most often occur?
A. Patients who are obese and who have no known history of diabetes
B. Patients with type 1 diabetes and poor dietary control
C. Adolescents with type 2 diabetes and sporadic use of antihyperglycemics
D. Middle-aged or older people with either type 2 diabetes or no known history of diabetes
C - correct answer-A physician has explained to a patient that he has developed diabetic
neuropathy in his right foot. Later that day, the patient asks the nurse what causes diabetic
neuropathy. What would be the nurses best response?
A) Research has shown that diabetic neuropathy is caused by fluctuations in blood sugar
that have gone on for years.
B) The cause is not known for sure but it is thought to have something to do with
ketoacidosis.
C) The cause is not known for sure but it is thought to involve elevated blood glucose levels
over a period of years.
C - correct answer-A patient with type 1 diabetes has told the nurse that his most recent
urine test for ketones was positive. What is the nurses most plausible conclusion based on
this assessment finding?
A) The patient should withhold his next scheduled dose of insulin.
B) The patient should promptly eat some protein and carbohydrates.
C) The patients insulin levels are inadequate.
D) The patient would benefit from a dose of metformin (Glucophage).
A - correct answer-A patient presents to the clinic complaining of symptoms that suggest
diabetes. What criteria would support checking blood levels for the diagnosis of diabetes?
A) Fasting plasma glucose greater than or equal to 126 mg/dL
B) Random plasma glucose greater than 150 mg/dL
C) Fasting plasma glucose greater than 116 mg/dL on 2 separate occasions
D) Random plasma glucose greater than 126 mg/dL
C - correct answer-A patient newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes is attending a nutrition
class. What general guideline would be important to teach the patients at this class?
A) Low fat generally indicates low sugar.
B. Protein should constitute 30% to 40% of caloric intake.
C. Most calories should be derived from carbohydrates.
D. Animal fats should be eliminated from the diet.
C - correct answer-A nurse is providing health education to an adolescent newly diagnosed
with type 1 diabetes mellitus and her family. The nurse teaches the patient and family that
which of the following nonpharmacologic measures will decrease the bodys need for insulin?
A. Adequate sleep
B. Low stimulation
C. Exercise
D. Low-fat diet
B - correct answer-A medical nurse is caring for a patient with type 1 diabetes. The patients
medication administration record includes the administration of regular insulin three times
daily. Knowing that the patients lunch tray will arrive at 11:45, when should the nurse
administer the patients insulin?
A. 10:45
B. 11:15
C. 11:45
D. 11:50
A - correct answer-A diabetes nurse educator is teaching a group of patients with type 1
diabetes about sick day rules. What guideline applies to periods of illness in a diabetic
patient?
A) Do not eliminate insulin when nauseated and vomiting.
B) Report elevated glucose levels greater than 150 mg/dL.
, C) Eat three substantial meals a day, if possible.
D) Reduce food intake and insulin doses in times of illness.
B - correct answer-The nurse is discussing macrovascular complications of diabetes with a
patient. The nurse would address
what
topic during this dialogue?
A. The need for frequent eye examinations for patients with diabetes
B. The fact that patients with diabetes have an elevated risk of myocardial infarction
C. The relationship between kidney function and blood glucose levels
D. The need to monitor urine for the presence of albumin
B - correct answer-An occupational health nurse is screening a group of workers for
diabetes. What statement should the nurse interpret as suggestive of diabetes?
Test Bank - Brunner & Suddarth's Textbook of Medical-Surgical Nursing 14e (Hinkle 2017)
965
A) Ive always been a fan of sweet foods, but lately Im turned off by them.
B) Lately, I drink and drink and cant seem to quench my thirst.
C) No matter how much sleep I get, it seems to take me hours to wake up.
D) When I went to the washroom the last few days, my urine smelled odd.
D - correct answer-An older adult patient with type 2 diabetes is brought to the emergency
department by his daughter. The patient is found to have a blood glucose level of 623 mg/dL.
The patients daughter reports that the patient recently had a gastrointestinal virus and has
been confused for the last 3 hours. The diagnosis of hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome
(HHS) is made. What nursing action would be a priority?
A) Administration of antihypertensive medications
B) Administering sodium bicarbonate intravenously
C) Reversing acidosis by administering insulin
D) Fluid and electrolyte replacement
D - correct answer-A medical nurse is aware of the need to screen specific patients for their
risk of hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome (HHS). In what patient population does
hyperosmolar nonketotic syndrome most often occur?
A. Patients who are obese and who have no known history of diabetes
B. Patients with type 1 diabetes and poor dietary control
C. Adolescents with type 2 diabetes and sporadic use of antihyperglycemics
D. Middle-aged or older people with either type 2 diabetes or no known history of diabetes
C - correct answer-A physician has explained to a patient that he has developed diabetic
neuropathy in his right foot. Later that day, the patient asks the nurse what causes diabetic
neuropathy. What would be the nurses best response?
A) Research has shown that diabetic neuropathy is caused by fluctuations in blood sugar
that have gone on for years.
B) The cause is not known for sure but it is thought to have something to do with
ketoacidosis.
C) The cause is not known for sure but it is thought to involve elevated blood glucose levels
over a period of years.
