Diabetes Mellitus NCLEX Style Questions
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1. The nurse is reviewing laboratory results for the clinic patients to be seen
today. Which patient meets the diagnostic criteria for diabetes mellitus?
a. A 48-year-old woman with a hemoglobin A1C of 8.4%
b. A 58-year-old man with a fasting blood glucose of 111 mg/dL
c. A 68-year-old woman with a random plasma glucose of 190 mg/dL
d. A 78-year-old man with a 2-hour glucose tolerance plasma glucose of 184
mg/dL: a. A 48-year-old woman with a hemoglobin A1C of 8.4%
Criteria for a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus include a hemoglobin A1C e 6.5%,
fasting plasma glucose level =126 mg/dL, 2-hour plasma glucose level =200 mg/dL
during an oral glucose tolerance test, or classic symptoms of hyperglycemia or
hyperglycemic crisis with a random plasma glucose =200 mg/dL.
2. The nurse teaches a 38-year-old man who was recently diagnosed with
type 1 diabetes mellitus about insulin administration. Which statement by the
patient requires an intervention by the nurse?
a. "I will discard any insulin bottle that is cloudy in appearance."
b. "The best injection site for insulin administration is in my abdomen."
c. "I can wash the site with soap and water before insulin administration."
d. "I may keep my insulin at room temperature (75o F) for up to a month.": a.
"I will discard any insulin bottle that is cloudy in appearance."
Intermediate-acting insulin and combination premixed insulin will be cloudy in ap-
pearance. Routine hygiene such as washing with soap and rinsing with water is
adequate for skin preparation for the patient during self-injections. Insulin vials that
the patient is currently using may be left at room temperature for up to 4 weeks
unless the room temperature is higher than 86° F (30° C) or below freezing (less than
32° F [0° C]). Rotating sites to different anatomic sites is no longer recommended.
Patients should rotate the injection within one particular site, such as the abdomen.
3. The nurse instructs a 22-year-old female patient with diabetes mellitus
about a healthy eating plan. Which statement made by the patient indicates
that teaching was successful?
a. "I plan to lose 25 pounds this year by following a high-protein diet."
b. "I may have a hypoglycemic reaction if I drink alcohol on an empty stom-
ach."
c. "I should include more fiber in my diet than a person who does not have
diabetes."
, Diabetes Mellitus NCLEX Style Questions
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_h50w76
d. "If I use an insulin pump, I will not need to limit the amount of saturated fat
in my diet.": b. "I may have a hypoglycemic reaction if I drink alcohol on an empty
stomach."
The risk for alcohol-induced hypoglycemia is reduced by eating carbohydrates when
drinking alcohol. Intensified insulin therapy, such as the use of an insulin pump,
allows considerable flexibility in food selection and can be adjusted for alterations
from usual eating and exercise habits. However, saturated fat intake should still be
limited to less than 7% of total daily calories. Daily fiber intake of 14 g/1000 kcal
is recommended for the general population and for patients with diabetes mellitus.
High-protein diets are not recommended for weight loss.
4. Which patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus would be at the highest risk for
developing hypoglycemic unawareness?
a. A 58-year-old patient with diabetic retinopathy
b. A 73-year-old patient who takes propranolol (Inderal)
c. A 19-year-old patient who is on the school track team
d. A 24-year-old patient with a hemoglobin A1C of 8.9%: b. A 73-year-old patient
who takes propranolol (Inderal)
Hypoglycemic unawareness is a condition in which a person does not experience the
warning signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia until the person becomes incoherent
and combative or loses consciousness. Hypoglycemic awareness is related to auto-
nomic neuropathy of diabetes that interferes with the secretion of counterregulatory
hormones that produce these symptoms. Older patients and patients who use
â-adrenergic blockers (e.g., propranolol) are at risk for hypoglycemic unawareness.
5. The nurse is teaching a 60-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus
how to prevent diabetic nephropathy. Which statement made by the patient
indicates that teaching has been successful?
a. "Smokeless tobacco products decrease the risk of kidney damage."
b. "I can help control my blood pressure by avoiding foods high in salt."
c. "I should have yearly dilated eye examinations by an ophthalmologist."
d. "I will avoid hypoglycemia by keeping my blood sugar above 180 mg/dL.": b.
"I can help control my blood pressure by avoiding foods high in salt."
Diabetic nephropathy is a microvascular complication associated with damage to
the small blood vessels that supply the glomeruli of the kidney. Risk factors for
the development of diabetic nephropathy include hypertension, genetic predispo-
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_h50w76
1. The nurse is reviewing laboratory results for the clinic patients to be seen
today. Which patient meets the diagnostic criteria for diabetes mellitus?
a. A 48-year-old woman with a hemoglobin A1C of 8.4%
b. A 58-year-old man with a fasting blood glucose of 111 mg/dL
c. A 68-year-old woman with a random plasma glucose of 190 mg/dL
d. A 78-year-old man with a 2-hour glucose tolerance plasma glucose of 184
mg/dL: a. A 48-year-old woman with a hemoglobin A1C of 8.4%
Criteria for a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus include a hemoglobin A1C e 6.5%,
fasting plasma glucose level =126 mg/dL, 2-hour plasma glucose level =200 mg/dL
during an oral glucose tolerance test, or classic symptoms of hyperglycemia or
hyperglycemic crisis with a random plasma glucose =200 mg/dL.
2. The nurse teaches a 38-year-old man who was recently diagnosed with
type 1 diabetes mellitus about insulin administration. Which statement by the
patient requires an intervention by the nurse?
a. "I will discard any insulin bottle that is cloudy in appearance."
b. "The best injection site for insulin administration is in my abdomen."
c. "I can wash the site with soap and water before insulin administration."
d. "I may keep my insulin at room temperature (75o F) for up to a month.": a.
"I will discard any insulin bottle that is cloudy in appearance."
Intermediate-acting insulin and combination premixed insulin will be cloudy in ap-
pearance. Routine hygiene such as washing with soap and rinsing with water is
adequate for skin preparation for the patient during self-injections. Insulin vials that
the patient is currently using may be left at room temperature for up to 4 weeks
unless the room temperature is higher than 86° F (30° C) or below freezing (less than
32° F [0° C]). Rotating sites to different anatomic sites is no longer recommended.
Patients should rotate the injection within one particular site, such as the abdomen.
3. The nurse instructs a 22-year-old female patient with diabetes mellitus
about a healthy eating plan. Which statement made by the patient indicates
that teaching was successful?
a. "I plan to lose 25 pounds this year by following a high-protein diet."
b. "I may have a hypoglycemic reaction if I drink alcohol on an empty stom-
ach."
c. "I should include more fiber in my diet than a person who does not have
diabetes."
, Diabetes Mellitus NCLEX Style Questions
Study online at https://quizlet.com/_h50w76
d. "If I use an insulin pump, I will not need to limit the amount of saturated fat
in my diet.": b. "I may have a hypoglycemic reaction if I drink alcohol on an empty
stomach."
The risk for alcohol-induced hypoglycemia is reduced by eating carbohydrates when
drinking alcohol. Intensified insulin therapy, such as the use of an insulin pump,
allows considerable flexibility in food selection and can be adjusted for alterations
from usual eating and exercise habits. However, saturated fat intake should still be
limited to less than 7% of total daily calories. Daily fiber intake of 14 g/1000 kcal
is recommended for the general population and for patients with diabetes mellitus.
High-protein diets are not recommended for weight loss.
4. Which patient with type 1 diabetes mellitus would be at the highest risk for
developing hypoglycemic unawareness?
a. A 58-year-old patient with diabetic retinopathy
b. A 73-year-old patient who takes propranolol (Inderal)
c. A 19-year-old patient who is on the school track team
d. A 24-year-old patient with a hemoglobin A1C of 8.9%: b. A 73-year-old patient
who takes propranolol (Inderal)
Hypoglycemic unawareness is a condition in which a person does not experience the
warning signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia until the person becomes incoherent
and combative or loses consciousness. Hypoglycemic awareness is related to auto-
nomic neuropathy of diabetes that interferes with the secretion of counterregulatory
hormones that produce these symptoms. Older patients and patients who use
â-adrenergic blockers (e.g., propranolol) are at risk for hypoglycemic unawareness.
5. The nurse is teaching a 60-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus
how to prevent diabetic nephropathy. Which statement made by the patient
indicates that teaching has been successful?
a. "Smokeless tobacco products decrease the risk of kidney damage."
b. "I can help control my blood pressure by avoiding foods high in salt."
c. "I should have yearly dilated eye examinations by an ophthalmologist."
d. "I will avoid hypoglycemia by keeping my blood sugar above 180 mg/dL.": b.
"I can help control my blood pressure by avoiding foods high in salt."
Diabetic nephropathy is a microvascular complication associated with damage to
the small blood vessels that supply the glomeruli of the kidney. Risk factors for
the development of diabetic nephropathy include hypertension, genetic predispo-
