NURSES' GUIDE TO TEACHING
DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT,
SECOND EDITION
2ND EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)RITA GIROUARD
MERTIG
TEST BANK
1) How insulin works: glucose entry into cells
Reference: Ch. 1 — Diabetes: The Basics — How Insulin Works
Question:
A 19-year-old student with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes
says, “I do not understand why my blood sugar is high if I have
,eaten only a small meal.” The nurse explains that insulin is
needed for glucose to move from the bloodstream into body
cells for energy. Which explanation by the nurse is most
accurate?
Options:
A. “Insulin keeps glucose trapped inside the bloodstream.”
B. “Insulin helps glucose enter cells where it can be used for
energy.”
C. “Insulin converts glucose into protein for storage.”
D. “Insulin is only needed after a person eats carbohydrates.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct Answer:
Insulin acts like a key that allows glucose to enter cells,
especially muscle and fat cells, where it can be used for energy.
Without enough insulin, glucose remains in the bloodstream,
causing hyperglycemia. This is foundational for diabetes self-
management teaching.
Rationale — Incorrect Options:
A. Insulin does the opposite; it helps move glucose out of the
bloodstream into cells.
C. Insulin does not convert glucose into protein.
D. Insulin is needed continuously for glucose regulation, not
only after meals.
Teaching Point:
Insulin allows glucose to enter cells for energy.
,Citation:
Mertig, R. G. (2019). Nurses' Guide to Teaching Diabetes Self-
Management (2nd ed.). Ch. 1.
2) How insulin works: absent insulin in type 1 diabetes
Reference: Ch. 1 — Diabetes: The Basics — How Insulin Works
Question:
A nurse is teaching the parent of a child newly diagnosed with
type 1 diabetes. The parent asks why the child is losing weight
despite eating normally before diagnosis. Which response is
best?
Options:
A. “The body cannot use glucose well without insulin, so it
begins breaking down fat and muscle.”
B. “The child is eating too much sugar, which causes weight
loss.”
C. “The pancreas is making extra insulin, which burns calories
too quickly.”
D. “Weight loss occurs only when blood glucose is below
normal.”
Correct Answer: A
Rationale — Correct Answer:
Without insulin, glucose cannot effectively enter the body’s
cells, so the body turns to fat and muscle for energy. This leads
to weight loss even when food intake is adequate. Teaching this
, helps families understand the physiologic basis of type 1
diabetes.
Rationale — Incorrect Options:
B. Sugar intake alone does not explain the catabolic weight loss
seen in untreated type 1 diabetes.
C. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by insufficient insulin
production, not excess insulin.
D. Weight loss is associated with uncontrolled hyperglycemia,
not low glucose alone.
Teaching Point:
Without insulin, the body burns fat and muscle for fuel.
Citation:
Mertig, R. G. (2019). Nurses' Guide to Teaching Diabetes Self-
Management (2nd ed.). Ch. 1.
3) Type 1 diabetes classification
Reference: Ch. 1 — Diabetes: The Basics — Classification of
Diabetes
Question:
A 12-year-old is admitted with polyuria, polydipsia, and a blood
glucose of 392 mg/dL. The provider suspects type 1 diabetes.
Which finding best supports this classification?
Options:
A. The child is overweight and has acanthosis nigricans.
B. The child has an autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta
DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT,
SECOND EDITION
2ND EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)RITA GIROUARD
MERTIG
TEST BANK
1) How insulin works: glucose entry into cells
Reference: Ch. 1 — Diabetes: The Basics — How Insulin Works
Question:
A 19-year-old student with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes
says, “I do not understand why my blood sugar is high if I have
,eaten only a small meal.” The nurse explains that insulin is
needed for glucose to move from the bloodstream into body
cells for energy. Which explanation by the nurse is most
accurate?
Options:
A. “Insulin keeps glucose trapped inside the bloodstream.”
B. “Insulin helps glucose enter cells where it can be used for
energy.”
C. “Insulin converts glucose into protein for storage.”
D. “Insulin is only needed after a person eats carbohydrates.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct Answer:
Insulin acts like a key that allows glucose to enter cells,
especially muscle and fat cells, where it can be used for energy.
Without enough insulin, glucose remains in the bloodstream,
causing hyperglycemia. This is foundational for diabetes self-
management teaching.
Rationale — Incorrect Options:
A. Insulin does the opposite; it helps move glucose out of the
bloodstream into cells.
C. Insulin does not convert glucose into protein.
D. Insulin is needed continuously for glucose regulation, not
only after meals.
Teaching Point:
Insulin allows glucose to enter cells for energy.
,Citation:
Mertig, R. G. (2019). Nurses' Guide to Teaching Diabetes Self-
Management (2nd ed.). Ch. 1.
2) How insulin works: absent insulin in type 1 diabetes
Reference: Ch. 1 — Diabetes: The Basics — How Insulin Works
Question:
A nurse is teaching the parent of a child newly diagnosed with
type 1 diabetes. The parent asks why the child is losing weight
despite eating normally before diagnosis. Which response is
best?
Options:
A. “The body cannot use glucose well without insulin, so it
begins breaking down fat and muscle.”
B. “The child is eating too much sugar, which causes weight
loss.”
C. “The pancreas is making extra insulin, which burns calories
too quickly.”
D. “Weight loss occurs only when blood glucose is below
normal.”
Correct Answer: A
Rationale — Correct Answer:
Without insulin, glucose cannot effectively enter the body’s
cells, so the body turns to fat and muscle for energy. This leads
to weight loss even when food intake is adequate. Teaching this
, helps families understand the physiologic basis of type 1
diabetes.
Rationale — Incorrect Options:
B. Sugar intake alone does not explain the catabolic weight loss
seen in untreated type 1 diabetes.
C. Type 1 diabetes is characterized by insufficient insulin
production, not excess insulin.
D. Weight loss is associated with uncontrolled hyperglycemia,
not low glucose alone.
Teaching Point:
Without insulin, the body burns fat and muscle for fuel.
Citation:
Mertig, R. G. (2019). Nurses' Guide to Teaching Diabetes Self-
Management (2nd ed.). Ch. 1.
3) Type 1 diabetes classification
Reference: Ch. 1 — Diabetes: The Basics — Classification of
Diabetes
Question:
A 12-year-old is admitted with polyuria, polydipsia, and a blood
glucose of 392 mg/dL. The provider suspects type 1 diabetes.
Which finding best supports this classification?
Options:
A. The child is overweight and has acanthosis nigricans.
B. The child has an autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta
