DIABETES MELLITUS TYPE 1 AND DKA
UNFOLDING REASONING FLASHCARDS AND
HIGH-YIELD EMERGENCY TOPICS 2026
◉ What happens when insulin production is lost in Type 1 Diabetes?
Answer: Glucose absorption is not possible.
◉ What is phase 2 of the pathophysiology of DMT1? Answer: HbA1c
between 5.7% and 6.4% with impaired glucose tolerance and 2
autoantibodies.
◉ What is phase 3 of the pathophysiology of DMT1? Answer:
Hyperglycemia with clinical manifestations and 2 or more
autoantibodies.
◉ How is DMT1 diagnosed? Answer: Diagnosis is based on elevated
blood sugar levels and the client's history and physical assessment.
◉ What urinalysis findings indicate DMT1? Answer: Elevated
glucose or acetone levels.
◉ What is a non-fasting blood glucose level indicative of DMT1?
Answer: 200 mg/dL or higher.
,◉ What is the fasting blood glucose level indicative of DMT1?
Answer: Greater than or equal to 126 mg/dL.
◉ What HbA1c level indicates DMT1? Answer: Greater than or equal
to 7%.
◉ How does Type 1 Diabetes differ from Type 2 Diabetes? Answer:
DMT1 cannot be prevented, while lifestyle modifications can reduce
the risk of DMT2.
◉ What laboratory tests differentiate DMT1 from DMT2? Answer:
Certain islet cell antibodies occur only with DMT1, and C-peptide
levels will be decreased in DMT1.
◉ What medications are used to treat Type 1 Diabetes? Answer:
Insulin regimens including rapid, short, intermediate, and long-
acting insulin based on blood glucose results.
◉ What monitoring is required for clients with Type 1 Diabetes?
Answer: Monitor blood glucose and HbA1c levels.
◉ What daily care is recommended for clients with Type 1 Diabetes?
Answer: Daily foot care/inspection and eye exams for diabetic
retinopathy.
,◉ Can oral medications be used for Type 1 Diabetes? Answer: No,
there are no approved oral medications for DMT1 because the body
does not produce insulin.
◉ What are the cardiac complications of Type 1 Diabetes? Answer:
stroke, heart attack, peripheral artery disease
◉ What are visual complications of Type 1 Diabetes? Answer:
diabetic neuropathy, cataracts, glaucoma
◉ What are neurological complications of Type 1 Diabetes? Answer:
diabetic foot, diabetic nephropathy, and peripheral neuropathy
◉ What are common clinical presentations of Type 1 Diabetes?
Answer: Rapid onset of polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia,
unintentional weight loss, visual changes, repeated infections,
delayed wound healing, and numbness and tingling in hands and
feet.
◉ What is Type 2 Diabetes? Answer: Type 2 Diabetes occurs when
the pancreas produces some insulin but not enough to maintain
blood glucose levels, and cell receptors become insulin resistant.
, ◉ What are the diagnostic tests for Type 2 Diabetes? Answer: To
confirm diagnosis, two abnormal results on two different days are
needed
◉ What fasting blood glucose is indicative of Type 2 Diabetes?
Answer: Fasting blood glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL
◉ What 2 hour post-prandial blood glucose is indicative of Type 2
Diabetes? Answer: 2-hour post-prandial blood glucose ≥ 200 mg/dL
◉ What random blood glucose is indicative of Type 2 Diabetes?
Answer: Random blood glucose ≥ 200 mg/dL
◉ What HbA1C is indicative of Type 2 Diabetes? Answer: HbA1C ≥
6.5%.
◉ How does Type 2 Diabetes differ from Type 1 Diabetes? Answer:
In Type 2 Diabetes, C-peptide levels are increased or normal.
◉ What is the first-line treatment for Type 2 Diabetes? Answer:
nutritional changes, exercise, weight loss, and strategies to improve
glycemic control.
UNFOLDING REASONING FLASHCARDS AND
HIGH-YIELD EMERGENCY TOPICS 2026
◉ What happens when insulin production is lost in Type 1 Diabetes?
Answer: Glucose absorption is not possible.
◉ What is phase 2 of the pathophysiology of DMT1? Answer: HbA1c
between 5.7% and 6.4% with impaired glucose tolerance and 2
autoantibodies.
◉ What is phase 3 of the pathophysiology of DMT1? Answer:
Hyperglycemia with clinical manifestations and 2 or more
autoantibodies.
◉ How is DMT1 diagnosed? Answer: Diagnosis is based on elevated
blood sugar levels and the client's history and physical assessment.
◉ What urinalysis findings indicate DMT1? Answer: Elevated
glucose or acetone levels.
◉ What is a non-fasting blood glucose level indicative of DMT1?
Answer: 200 mg/dL or higher.
,◉ What is the fasting blood glucose level indicative of DMT1?
Answer: Greater than or equal to 126 mg/dL.
◉ What HbA1c level indicates DMT1? Answer: Greater than or equal
to 7%.
◉ How does Type 1 Diabetes differ from Type 2 Diabetes? Answer:
DMT1 cannot be prevented, while lifestyle modifications can reduce
the risk of DMT2.
◉ What laboratory tests differentiate DMT1 from DMT2? Answer:
Certain islet cell antibodies occur only with DMT1, and C-peptide
levels will be decreased in DMT1.
◉ What medications are used to treat Type 1 Diabetes? Answer:
Insulin regimens including rapid, short, intermediate, and long-
acting insulin based on blood glucose results.
◉ What monitoring is required for clients with Type 1 Diabetes?
Answer: Monitor blood glucose and HbA1c levels.
◉ What daily care is recommended for clients with Type 1 Diabetes?
Answer: Daily foot care/inspection and eye exams for diabetic
retinopathy.
,◉ Can oral medications be used for Type 1 Diabetes? Answer: No,
there are no approved oral medications for DMT1 because the body
does not produce insulin.
◉ What are the cardiac complications of Type 1 Diabetes? Answer:
stroke, heart attack, peripheral artery disease
◉ What are visual complications of Type 1 Diabetes? Answer:
diabetic neuropathy, cataracts, glaucoma
◉ What are neurological complications of Type 1 Diabetes? Answer:
diabetic foot, diabetic nephropathy, and peripheral neuropathy
◉ What are common clinical presentations of Type 1 Diabetes?
Answer: Rapid onset of polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia,
unintentional weight loss, visual changes, repeated infections,
delayed wound healing, and numbness and tingling in hands and
feet.
◉ What is Type 2 Diabetes? Answer: Type 2 Diabetes occurs when
the pancreas produces some insulin but not enough to maintain
blood glucose levels, and cell receptors become insulin resistant.
, ◉ What are the diagnostic tests for Type 2 Diabetes? Answer: To
confirm diagnosis, two abnormal results on two different days are
needed
◉ What fasting blood glucose is indicative of Type 2 Diabetes?
Answer: Fasting blood glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL
◉ What 2 hour post-prandial blood glucose is indicative of Type 2
Diabetes? Answer: 2-hour post-prandial blood glucose ≥ 200 mg/dL
◉ What random blood glucose is indicative of Type 2 Diabetes?
Answer: Random blood glucose ≥ 200 mg/dL
◉ What HbA1C is indicative of Type 2 Diabetes? Answer: HbA1C ≥
6.5%.
◉ How does Type 2 Diabetes differ from Type 1 Diabetes? Answer:
In Type 2 Diabetes, C-peptide levels are increased or normal.
◉ What is the first-line treatment for Type 2 Diabetes? Answer:
nutritional changes, exercise, weight loss, and strategies to improve
glycemic control.
