ELITE COMPREHENSIVE
DIABETES MELLITUS PHARMACOLOGY AND
NURSING EXAM
Oral Agents and Blood Glucose Regulation
FINAL SPRING EXAM|| QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS|| GRADE A+
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 stomach."
c. "I should include more fiber in my diet than a person who does not have diabetes."
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
1
carbohydrates when drinking alcohol. Intensified insulin therapy, such
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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.
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 autonomic
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.
The nurse is teaching a 60-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus how to prevent
2
diabetic nephropathy. Which statement made by the patient indicates that teaching has
Page
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 predisposition, smoking, and chronic
hyperglycemia. Patients with diabetes are screened for nephropathy
annually with a measurement of the albumin-to-creatinine ratio in
urine; a serum creatinine is also needed.
A 54-year-old patient admitted with type 2 diabetes asks the nurse what "type 2" 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."
d. "With type 2 diabetes, the body produces autoantibodies that destroy β-cells in the
pancreas."
✓ b. "With type 2 diabetes, insulin secretion is decreased, and insulin
3
resistance is increased."
Page
DIABETES MELLITUS PHARMACOLOGY AND
NURSING EXAM
Oral Agents and Blood Glucose Regulation
FINAL SPRING EXAM|| QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS|| GRADE A+
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 stomach."
c. "I should include more fiber in my diet than a person who does not have diabetes."
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
1
carbohydrates when drinking alcohol. Intensified insulin therapy, such
Page
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.
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 autonomic
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.
The nurse is teaching a 60-year-old woman with type 2 diabetes mellitus how to prevent
2
diabetic nephropathy. Which statement made by the patient indicates that teaching has
Page
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 predisposition, smoking, and chronic
hyperglycemia. Patients with diabetes are screened for nephropathy
annually with a measurement of the albumin-to-creatinine ratio in
urine; a serum creatinine is also needed.
A 54-year-old patient admitted with type 2 diabetes asks the nurse what "type 2" 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."
d. "With type 2 diabetes, the body produces autoantibodies that destroy β-cells in the
pancreas."
✓ b. "With type 2 diabetes, insulin secretion is decreased, and insulin
3
resistance is increased."
Page
