1
Diabetes Mellitus NCLEX Style Questions
A 51-year-old patient with diabetes mellitus is scheduled for a fasting blood
R
glucose level at 8:00 AM. The nurse instructs the patient to only drink water after
E
what time?
H
a. 6:00 PM on the evening before the test
G
b. Midnight before the test
I
c. 4:00 AM on the day of the test
H
d. 7:00 AM on the day of the test - ANS b. Midnight before the test
G
Typically, a patient is ordered to be NPO for 8 hours before a fasting blood
N
glucose level. For this reason, the patient who has a lab draw at 8:00 AM should
I
not have any food or beverages containing any calories after midnight.
LY
A 54-year-old patient admitted with type 2 diabetes asks the nurse what "type 2"
F
means. What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?
a. "With type 2 diabetes, the body of the pancreas becomes inflamed."
b. "With type 2 diabetes, insulin secretion is decreased, and insulin resistance is
increased."
c. "With type 2 diabetes, the patient is totally dependent on an outside source of
insulin."
, 2
d. "With type 2 diabetes, the body produces autoantibodies that destroy β-cells in
the pancreas." - ANS b. "With type 2 diabetes, insulin secretion is
decreased, and insulin resistance is increased."
R
In type 2 diabetes mellitus, the secretion of insulin by the pancreas is reduced,
E
and/or the cells of the body become resistant to insulin. The pancreas becomes
H
inflamed with pancreatitis. The patient is totally dependent on exogenous insulin
and may have had autoantibodies destroy the β-cells in the pancreas with type 1
G
diabetes mellitus.
HI
A 65-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes has a urinary tract infection (UTI). The
G
unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) reported to the nurse that the patient's
blood glucose is 642 mg/dL and the patient is hard to arouse. When the nurse
N
assesses the urine, there are no ketones present. What collaborative care should
I
the nurse expect for this patient?
LY
a. Routine insulin therapy and exercise
F
b. Administer a different antibiotic for the UTI.
c. Cardiac monitoring to detect potassium changes
d. Administer IV fluids rapidly to correct dehydration. - ANS c. Cardiac
monitoring to detect potassium changes
, 3
This patient has manifestations of hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS).
Cardiac monitoring will be needed because of the changes in the potassium level
related to fluid and insulin therapy and the osmotic diuresis from the elevated
serum glucose level. Routine insulin would not be enough, and exercise could be
R
dangerous for this patient. Extra insulin will be needed. The type of antibiotic will
E
not affect HHS. There will be a large amount of IV fluid administered, but it will be
H
given slowly because this patient is older and may have cardiac or renal
compromise requiring hemodynamic monitoring to avoid fluid overload during
G
fluid replacement.
HI
A college student is newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. She now has a
G
headache, changes in her vision, and is anxious, but does not have her portable
blood glucose monitor with her. Which action should the campus nurse advise
N
her to take?
YI
a. Eat a piece of pizza.
L
b. Drink some diet pop.
F
c. Eat 15 g of simple carbohydrates.
d. Take an extra dose of rapid-acting insulin. - ANS c. Eat 15 g of simple
carbohydrates.
When the patient with type 1 diabetes is unsure about the meaning of the
symptoms she is experiencing, she should treat herself for hypoglycemia to
Diabetes Mellitus NCLEX Style Questions
A 51-year-old patient with diabetes mellitus is scheduled for a fasting blood
R
glucose level at 8:00 AM. The nurse instructs the patient to only drink water after
E
what time?
H
a. 6:00 PM on the evening before the test
G
b. Midnight before the test
I
c. 4:00 AM on the day of the test
H
d. 7:00 AM on the day of the test - ANS b. Midnight before the test
G
Typically, a patient is ordered to be NPO for 8 hours before a fasting blood
N
glucose level. For this reason, the patient who has a lab draw at 8:00 AM should
I
not have any food or beverages containing any calories after midnight.
LY
A 54-year-old patient admitted with type 2 diabetes asks the nurse what "type 2"
F
means. What is the most appropriate response by the nurse?
a. "With type 2 diabetes, the body of the pancreas becomes inflamed."
b. "With type 2 diabetes, insulin secretion is decreased, and insulin resistance is
increased."
c. "With type 2 diabetes, the patient is totally dependent on an outside source of
insulin."
, 2
d. "With type 2 diabetes, the body produces autoantibodies that destroy β-cells in
the pancreas." - ANS b. "With type 2 diabetes, insulin secretion is
decreased, and insulin resistance is increased."
R
In type 2 diabetes mellitus, the secretion of insulin by the pancreas is reduced,
E
and/or the cells of the body become resistant to insulin. The pancreas becomes
H
inflamed with pancreatitis. The patient is totally dependent on exogenous insulin
and may have had autoantibodies destroy the β-cells in the pancreas with type 1
G
diabetes mellitus.
HI
A 65-year-old patient with type 2 diabetes has a urinary tract infection (UTI). The
G
unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) reported to the nurse that the patient's
blood glucose is 642 mg/dL and the patient is hard to arouse. When the nurse
N
assesses the urine, there are no ketones present. What collaborative care should
I
the nurse expect for this patient?
LY
a. Routine insulin therapy and exercise
F
b. Administer a different antibiotic for the UTI.
c. Cardiac monitoring to detect potassium changes
d. Administer IV fluids rapidly to correct dehydration. - ANS c. Cardiac
monitoring to detect potassium changes
, 3
This patient has manifestations of hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS).
Cardiac monitoring will be needed because of the changes in the potassium level
related to fluid and insulin therapy and the osmotic diuresis from the elevated
serum glucose level. Routine insulin would not be enough, and exercise could be
R
dangerous for this patient. Extra insulin will be needed. The type of antibiotic will
E
not affect HHS. There will be a large amount of IV fluid administered, but it will be
H
given slowly because this patient is older and may have cardiac or renal
compromise requiring hemodynamic monitoring to avoid fluid overload during
G
fluid replacement.
HI
A college student is newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. She now has a
G
headache, changes in her vision, and is anxious, but does not have her portable
blood glucose monitor with her. Which action should the campus nurse advise
N
her to take?
YI
a. Eat a piece of pizza.
L
b. Drink some diet pop.
F
c. Eat 15 g of simple carbohydrates.
d. Take an extra dose of rapid-acting insulin. - ANS c. Eat 15 g of simple
carbohydrates.
When the patient with type 1 diabetes is unsure about the meaning of the
symptoms she is experiencing, she should treat herself for hypoglycemia to
