Diabetes Practice Questions

The nurse has administered 4 oz of orange juice to an alert patient whose blood glucose was 62 mg/dL. Fifteen minutes later, the blood glucose is 67 mg/dL. Which action should the nurse take next? a. Give the patient 4 to 6 oz more orange juice. b. Administer the PRN glucagon (Glucagon) 1 mg IM. c. Have the patient eat some peanut butter with crackers. d. Notify the health care provider about the hypoglycemia.

A

A 34-year-old has a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes. The nurse will discuss the need to schedule a dilated eye exam: a. every 2 years. b. as soon as possible. c. when the patient is 39 years old. d. within the first year after diagnosis.

B

A hospitalized diabetic patient received 38 U of NPH insulin at 7:00 AM. At 1:00 PM, the patient has been away from the nursing unit for 2 hours, missing the lunch delivery while awaiting a chest x-ray. To prevent hypoglycemia, the best action by the nurse is to: A). Save the lunch tray for the patient's later return to the unit. B). Ask that diagnostic testing area staff to start a 5% dextrose IV. C). Send a glass of milk or orange juice to the patient in the diagnostic testing area. D). Request that if testing is further delayed, the patient be returned to the unit to eat.

D

A 27-year-old patient admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) has a serum glucose level of 732 mg/dL and serum potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L. Which action prescribed by the health care provider should the nurse take first? a. Place the patient on a cardiac monitor. b. Administer IV potassium supplements. c. Obtain urine glucose and ketone levels. d. Start an insulin infusion at 0.1 units/kg/hr.

A

A 32-year-old patient with diabetes is starting on intensive insulin therapy. Which type of insulin will the nurse discuss using for mealtime coverage? A). Lispro (Humalog) B). Glargine (Lantus) C). Detemir (Levemir) D). NPH (Humulin N)

A

A 54-year-old patient is admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis. Which admission order should the nurse implement first? a. Infuse 1 liter of normal saline per hour. b. Give sodium bicarbonate 50 mEq IV push. c. Administer regular insulin 10 U by IV push. d. Start a regular insulin infusion at 0.1 units/kg/hr.

A

A female patient is scheduled for an oral glucose tolerance test. Which information from the patient's health history is most important for the nurse to communicate to the health care provider? a. The patient uses oral contraceptives. b. The patient runs several days a week. c. The patient has been pregnant three times. d. The patient has a family history of diabetes.

A

A patient receives aspart (NovoLog) insulin at 8:00 AM. Which time will it be most important for the nurse to monitor for symptoms of hypoglycemia? A). 10:00 AM B). 12:00 AM C). 2:00 PM D). 4:00 PM

A

A patient who has type 1 diabetes plans to swim laps for an hour daily at 1:00 PM. The clinic nurse will plan to teach the patient to: a) check glucose level before, during, and after swimming. b) delay eating the noon meal until after the swimming class. c) increase the morning dose of neutral protamine Hagedorn (NPH) insulin. d) time the morning insulin injection so that the peak occurs while swimming.

A

How will the nurse modify insulin injection technique for a client who is 5'10" tall and weight 106 lb? a) Use a 6-mm needle and inject at a 90 degree angle b) Use a 6-mm needle and inject at a 45 degree angle c) Use a 12-mm needle and inject at a 90 degree angle d) Use a 12-mm needle and inject at a 45 degree angle

B

Which hormones help prevent HYPOglycemia? SATA: a) aldosterone b) cortisol c) epinephrine d) growth hormone e) glucagon f) insulin g) norepinephrine h) proinsulin

B, C, D, E, G

The nurse is assessing a 55-yr-old female patient with type 2 diabetes who has a body mass index (BMI) of 31 kg/m2. Which goal in the plan of care is most important for this patient? a) The patient will reach a glycosylated hemoglobin level of less than 7%. b) The patient will follow a diet and exercise plan that results in weight loss. c) The patient will choose a diet that distributes calories throughout the day. d) The patient will state the reasons for eliminating simple sugars in the diet.

A

To assist an older patient with diabetes to engage in moderate daily exercise, which action is most important for the nurse to take? a) Determine what types of activities the patient enjoys. b) Remind the patient that exercise improves self-esteem. c) Teach the patient about the effects of exercise on glucose level. d) Give the patient a list of activities that are moderate in intensity.

A

Which information will the nurse include in teaching a female patient who has peripheral arterial disease, type 2 diabetes, and sensory neuropathy of the feet and legs? a. Choose flat-soled leather shoes. b. Set heating pads on a low temperature. c. Use callus remover for corns or calluses. d. Soak feet in warm water for an hour each day.

A

Which nursing action can the nurse delegate to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) who are working in the diabetic clinic? a. Measure the ankle-brachial index. b. Check for changes in skin pigmentation. c. Assess for unilateral or bilateral foot drop. d. Ask the patient about symptoms of depression.

A

Which patient action indicates a good understanding of the nurse's teaching about the use of an insulin pump? A). The patient programs the pump for an insulin bolus after eating. B). The patient changes the location of the insertion site every week. C). The patient takes the pump off at bedtime and starts it again each morning. D). The patient plans for a diet that is less flexible when using the insulin pump.

A

Which precaution is a priority for the nurse to teach a client prescribed semaglutide to prevent harm? a) only take this drug 1x/week b) report any vision changes immediately c) do not mix in the same syringe with insulin d) this drug can only be given by a HCP

A

Which question during the assessment of a diabetic patient will help the nurse identify autonomic neuropathy? a. "Do you feel bloated after eating?" b. "Have you seen any skin changes?" c. "Do you need to increase your insulin dosage when you are stressed?" d. "Have you noticed any painful new ulcerations or sores on your feet?"

A

Which statement by the patient indicates a need for additional instruction in administering insulin? A). "I need to rotate injection sites among my arms, legs, and abdomen each day." B). "I can buy the 0.5 mL syringes because the line markings will be easier to see." C). "I should draw up the regular insulin first after injecting air into the NPH bottle." D). "I do not need to aspirate the plunger to check for blood before injecting insulin."

A

Which physiological processes directly prevent severe hypoglycemia in a healthy adult w/o diabetes who is NPO for 12 hours? SATA: a) gluconeogenesis b) glycogenesis c) glycogenolysis d) ketogenesis e) lipogenesis f) lipolysis

A, C

The nurse identifies a need for additional teaching when the patient who is self-monitoring blood glucose: a) washes the puncture site using warm water and soap. b) chooses a puncture site in the center of the finger pad. c) hangs the arm down for a minute before puncturing the site. d) says the result of 120 mg indicates good blood sugar control.

B

A client with DM who now has chronic albuminuria asks the nurse how this change will affect his health. How will the nurse answer this question? a) "You will need to limit your intake of dietary albumin and other proteins to reduce the albuminuria." b) "This change indicates beginning kidney problems and requires good blood glucose control to prevent more damage." c) "Your risk for developing UTI's is greatly increased, requiring the need to take daily antibiotics for prevention." d) "From now on you will need to limit your fluid intake to just 1L daily and completely avoid caffeine to protect your kidneys."

B

After change-of-shift report, which patient should the nurse assess first? a. 19-year-old with type 1 diabetes who has a hemoglobin A1C of 12% b. 23-year-old with type 1 diabetes who has a blood glucose of 40 mg/dL c. 40-year-old who is pregnant and whose oral glucose tolerance test is 202 mg/dL d. 50-year-old who uses exenatide (Byetta) and is complaining of acute abdominal pain

B

An active 28-year-old male with type 1 diabetes is being seen in the endocrine clinic. Which finding may indicate the need for a change in therapy? a. Hemoglobin A1C level 6.2% b. Blood pressure 146/88 mmHg c. Heart rate at rest 58 beats/minute d. High density lipoprotein (HDL) level 65 mg/dL

B

An unresponsive patient with type 2 diabetes is brought to the emergency department and diagnosed with hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome (HHS). The nurse will anticipate the need to: a). give a bolus of 50% dextrose. b). insert a large-bore IV catheter. c). initiate oxygen by nasal cannula. d). administer glargine (Lantus) insulin.

B

The nurse is preparing to teach a 43-year-old man who is newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about home management of the disease. Which action should the nurse take first? a) Ask the patient's family to participate in the diabetes education program. b) Assess the patient's perception of what it means to have diabetes mellitus. c) Demonstrate how to check glucose using capillary blood glucose monitoring. d) Discuss the need for the patient to actively participate in diabetes management.

B

The nurse is taking a health history from a 29-year-old pregnant patient at the first prenatal visit. The patient reports no personal history of diabetes but has a parent who is diabetic. Which action will the nurse plan to take first? a. Teach the patient about administering regular insulin. b. Schedule the patient for a fasting blood glucose level. c. Discuss an oral glucose tolerance test for the twenty-fourth week of pregnancy. d. Provide teaching about an increased risk for fetal problems with gestational diabetes.

B

What is the nurse's best response when a client with DM who is being treated for hypoglycemia asks why people without diabetes don't become severely hypoglycemic even after fasting for 8 hours? a) In a person w/o DM, fasting for 8 hours converts proteins into glycose (gluconeogenesis) so that hyperglycemia develops rather than hypoglycemia. b) In a person w/o DM, the secretion of glucagon prevents hypoglycemia by promoting glucose release from liver storage sits (glycogenolysis). c) Normal metabolism is so slow when a person w/o DM fasts that blood glucose does not enter cells to be used for energy. As a result, hypoglycemia does not occur. d) Lipolysis (fat breakdown) in fat stores occurs faster in the nondiabetic pt's, which converts fatty acids into glucose to maintain blood glucose levels

B

Which action should the nurse take after a 36-year-old patient treated with intramuscular glucagon for hypoglycemia regains consciousness? a. Assess the patient for symptoms of hyperglycemia. b. Give the patient a snack of peanut butter and crackers. c. Have the patient drink a glass of orange juice or nonfat milk. d. Administer a continuous infusion of 5% dextrose for 24 hours.

B

Which laboratory value reported to the nurse by the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) indicates the most urgent need for the nurse's assessment of the patient? a. Bedtime glucose of 140 mg/dL b. Noon blood glucose of 52 mg/dL c. Fasting blood glucose of 130 mg/dL d. 2-hr postprandial glucose of 220 mg/dL

B

Which patient action indicates good understanding of the nurse's teaching about administration of aspart (NovoLog) insulin? A). The patient avoids injecting the insulin into the upper abdominal area. B). The patient cleans the skin with soap and water before insulin administration. C). The patient stores the insulin in the freezer after administering the prescribed dose. D). The patient pushes the plunger down while removing the syringe from the injection site.

B

While making rounds, the nurse finds a pt with T1DM pale, sweaty, and slightly confused; the client can swallow. The client's CBG is 48 mg/dL. What is the nurse's best first action to prevent harm? a) call the pharmacy and order a STAT dose of glucagon b) immediately give the client 30 g of glucose orally c) start an IV and administer a small amoutn of concentrated dextrose solution d) Recheck the blood glucose level and call the Rapid Response Team

B

Which health promotion activity(ies) will the nurse recommend to prevent harm in a client with T2DM? SATA: a) "Avoid all dietary CHO and fat" b) "Have your eyes and vision assessed by an ophthalmologist every year" c) "Reduce your intake of animal fat and increase your intake of plant sterols" d) "Be sure to take your antidiabetes drug right before you engage in any type of exercise." e) "Keep your feet warm in cold weather by using either a hot water bottle or heating pad." f) "Avoid foot damage from shoe-rubbing by going barefoot or wearing flip-flops when you are at home."

B, C

To monitor for complications in a patient with type 2 diabetes, which tests will the nurse in the diabetic clinic schedule at least annually (select all that apply)? a. Chest x-ray b. Blood pressure c. Serum creatinine d. Urine for microalbuminuria e. Complete blood count (CBC) f. Monofilament testing of the foot

B, C, D, F

A 26-year-old female with type 1 diabetes develops a sore throat and runny nose after caring for her sick toddler. The patient calls the clinic for advice about her symptoms and a blood glucose level of 210 mg/dL despite taking her usual glargine (Lantus) and lispro (Humalog) insulin. The nurse advises the patient to: a). use only the lispro insulin until the symptoms are resolved. b). limit intake of calories until the glucose is less than 120 mg/dL. c). monitor blood glucose every 4 hours and notify the clinic if it continues to rise. d). decrease intake of carbohydrates until glycosylated hemoglobin is less than 7%.

C

A 26-year-old patient with diabetes rides a bicycle to and from work every day. Which site should the nurse teach the patient to administer the morning insulin? a. thigh. b. buttock. c. abdomen. d. upper arm.

C

A 48-year-old male patient screened for diabetes at a clinic has a fasting plasma glucose level of 120 mg/dL (6.7 mmol/L). The nurse will plan to teach the patient about: A.) Self-monitoring of blood glucose. B). Using low doses of regular insulin. C). Lifestyle changes to lower blood glucose. D). Effects of oral hypoglycemic medications.

C

A few weeks after an 82-year-old with a new diagnosis of type 2 diabetes has been placed on metformin (Glucophage) therapy and taught about appropriate diet and exercise, the home health nurse makes a visit. Which finding by the nurse is most important to discuss with the health care provider? a. Hemoglobin A1C level is 7.9%. b. Last eye exam was 18 months ago. c. Glomerular filtration rate is decreased. d. Patient has questions about the prescribed diet.

C

A patient who was admitted with diabetic ketoacidosis secondary to a urinary tract infection has been weaned off an insulin drip 30 minutes ago. The patient reports feeling lightheaded and sweaty. Which action should the nurse take first? a. Infuse dextrose 50% by slow IV push. b. Administer 1 mg glucagon subcutaneously. c. Obtain a glucose reading using a finger stick. d. Have the patient drink 4 ounces of orange juice.

C

A patient with type 2 diabetes is scheduled for a follow-up visit in the clinic several months from now. Which test will the nurse schedule to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment for the patient? a) Fasting blood glucose b) Oral glucose tolerance c) Glycosylated hemoglobin d) Urine dipstick for glucose

C

After change-of-shift report, which patient will the nurse assess first? a. 19-year-old with type 1 diabetes who was admitted with possible dawn phenomenon b. 35-year-old with type 1 diabetes whose most recent blood glucose reading was 230 mg/dL c. 60-year-old with hyperosmolar hyperglycemic syndrome who has poor skin turgor and dry oral mucosa d. 68-year-old with type 2 diabetes who has severe peripheral neuropathy and complains of burning foot pain

C

After the nurse has finished teaching a patient who has a new prescription for exenatide (Byetta), which patient statement indicates that the teaching has been effective? a. "I may feel hungrier than usual when I take this medicine." b. "I will not need to worry about hypoglycemia with the Byetta." c. "I should take my daily aspirin at least an hour before the Byetta." d. "I will take the pill at the same time I eat breakfast in the morning."

C

The health care provider suspects the Somogyi effect in a 50-year-old patient whose 6:00 AM blood glucose is 230 mg/dL. Which action will the nurse teach the patient to take? a). Avoid snacking at bedtime. b). Increase the rapid-acting insulin dose. c). Check the blood glucose during the night d). Administer a larger dose of long-acting insulin.

C

The nurse determines a need for additional instruction when the patient with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes says which of the following? A). "I can have an occasional alcoholic drink if I include it in my meal plan." B). "I will need a bedtime snack because I take an evening dose of NPH insulin." C). "I can choose any foods, as long as I use enough insulin to cover the calories." D). "I will eat something at meal times to prevent hypoglycemia, even if I am not hungry."

C

The nurse is assessing a 22-yr-old patient experiencing the onset of symptoms of type 1 diabetes. To which question would the nurse anticipate a positive response? a) "Are you anorexic?" b) "Is your urine dark colored?" c) "Have you lost weight lately?" d) "Do you crave sugary drinks?

C

When a patient who takes metformin (Glucophage) to manage type 2 diabetes develops an allergic rash from an unknown cause, the health care provider prescribes prednisone (Deltasone). The nurse will anticipate that the patient may: A). Need a diet higher in calories while receiving prednisone. B). Develop acute hypoglycemia while taking the prednisone. C). Require administration of insulin while taking prednisone. D). Have rashes caused by metformin-prednisone interactions.

C

When a patient with type 2 diabetes is admitted for a cholecystectomy, which nursing action can the nurse delegate to a licensed practical/vocational nurse (LPN/LVN)? a. Communicate the blood glucose level and insulin dose to the circulating nurse in surgery. b. Discuss the reason for the use of insulin therapy during the immediate postoperative period. c. Administer the prescribed lispro (Humalog) insulin before transporting the patient to surgery. d. Plan strategies to minimize the risk for hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia during the postoperative period.

C

Which information is most important for the nurse to report to the health care provider before a patient with type 2 diabetes is prepared for a coronary angiogram? a. The patient's most recent HbA1C was 6.5%. b. The patient's admission blood glucose is 128 mg/dL. c. The patient took the prescribed metformin (Glucophage) today. d. The patient took the prescribed captopril (Capoten) this morning.

C

Which precaution is a priority for the nurse to teach a client prescribed pramlintide to prevent harm? a) only take this drug once weekly b) do not drink alcohol when taking this drug c) do not mix in the same syringe with insulin d) report any genital itching to your PCP

C

Which statement by a nurse to a patient newly diagnosed with T2DM is correct? a) insulin is not used to control blood glucose in patients with T2DM b) complications of T2DM are less serious than those of T1DM c) changes in diet and exercise may control blood glucose levels in T2DM d) T2DM is usually diagnosed when the pt is admitted with a hyperglycemic coma

C

A 28-yr-old male patient with type 1 diabetes reports how he manages his exercise and glucose control. Which behavior indicates that the nurse should implement additional teaching? a) The patient always carries hard candies when engaging in exercise. b) The patient goes for a vigorous walk when his glucose is 200 mg/dL. c) The patient has a peanut butter sandwich before going for a bicycle ride. d) The patient increases daily exercise when ketones are present in the urine.

D

The nurse reviewing the preadmission testing lab values for a 62-year-old client scheduled for a total knee replacement finds an A1C value of 6.2%. How will the nurse interpret this finding? a) Completely normal b) Pt has T1DM c) Pt has T2DM d) Pt has Pre-diabetes

D

When preparing to administer a prescribed SQ dose of NPH insulin from an open vial taken from a medication drawer to a client with DM, the nurse notes the solution is cloudy. What action will the nurse perform to ensure client safety? a) warm the vial in a bowl of warm water until it reaches normal body temperature b) return the vial to the pharmacy and open a fresh vial of NPH insulin c) Roll the vial between the hands until the insulin is clear d) Check the expiration date and draw up the insulin dose

D

Which finding indicates a need to contact the health care provider before the nurse administers metformin (Glucophage)? a. The patient's blood glucose level is 174 mg/dL. b. The patient has gained 2 lb (0.9 kg) since yesterday. c. The patient is scheduled for a chest x-ray in an hour. d. The patient's blood urea nitrogen (BUN) level is 52 mg/dL.

D