Diabetes Mellitus & Hypoglycemia(Q&A)
A nurse explains that type 1 diabetes mellitus is a disease in which the body does not produce enough
insulin. What is the reason that the blood glucose is elevated?
a. Prolonged elevation of stress hormone (cortisol, epinephrine, glucagon, growth hormone) levels
b. Malfunction of the glycogen-storing capabilities of the liver
c. Destruction of the beta cells in the pancreas
d. Insulin resistance of the receptor cells in the muscle tissue - c. Destruction of the beta cells in the
pancreas
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a disease in which the pancreas does not produce adequate insulin because
of the destruction of beta cells.
A patient newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus asks the nurse why she has to take a pill
instead of insulin. The nurse explains that in type 2 diabetes mellitus, the body still makes insulin. What
other information is pertinent for the nurse to relay?
a. Overweight and underactive people cannot simply use the insulin produced.
b. Metabolism is slowed in some people, so they have to take a pill to speed up their metabolism.
c. Sometimes the autoimmune system works against the action of the insulin.
d. The cells become resistant to the action of insulin. Pills are given to increase the sensitivity. - d. The
cells become resistant to the action of insulin. Pills are given to increase the sensitivity.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a disease in which the cells become resistant to the action of insulin and the
blood glucose level rises. Oral hyperglycemic agents make the cells more sensitive.
A patient tells a nurse that she eats huge amounts of food but stays hungry most of the time. What
should the nurse explain as the cause of hunger experienced by persons with type 1 diabetes?
a. Excess amount of glucose
b. Need for additional calories to correct the increased metabolism
c. Fact that the cells cannot use the blood glucose
,d. Need for exercise to stimulate insulin secretion - c. Fact that the cells cannot use the blood glucose
The cells cannot use the glucose without insulin, so the patient with diabetes still feels hungry event
though abundant glucose is circulating in the blood.
What does the lack of insulin in patients with type 1 diabetes cause that increases the risk for
cardiovascular disorders?
a. High glucose levels that irritate and shrink the vessels
b. Inadequate metabolism of proteins, which causes ketosis
c. Increased fatty acid levels
d. Increased metabolism of ketones, which causes hypertension - c. Increased fatty acid levels
The increase in fatty acid levels causes an increase in the level of triglycerides and an attendant rise in
low-density lipoprotein levels.
The self-care goal of a patient with diabetes is to keep the blood sugar within normal limits. What
causes hyperglycemia to occur?
a. Blood glucose levels rise, stimulating the production of insulin.
b. Insulin conversion of glycogen to glucose is inhibited.
c. The body responds to glucose-starved tissues by changing stored glycogen into glucose.
d. Glycogen is unable to be stored in the liver and muscles. - c. The body responds to glucose-starved
tissues by changing stored glycogen into glucose.
The hypothalamus is receiving a message that the cells need glucose, so it responds by adding more
glucose to the already overburdened blood.
A young patient complains that diabetes is causing her to have no life at all. Its too hard. What is the
most helpful response by the nurse?
a. Yes, you must make some sacrifices.
b. Its hard, but with significant alterations in your lifestyle, you can live a long life.
c. Whats hard about exercise, diet, and medicine?
, d. Lets talk about what makes it so hard. - d. Lets talk about what makes it so hard.
Involving the patient in decisions about how she will cope with her diabetes will make the goals more
realistic and personal, which will give her a greater chance of success in meeting them.
When a patient with type 2 diabetes says, Why in the world are they looking at my hemoglobin? I
thought my problem was with my blood sugar. What should the nurse explain about the level of
hemoglobin A1c?
a. Shows how a high level of glucose can cause a significant drop in the hemoglobin level
b. Shows what the glucose level has done during the past 3 months
c. Indicates a true picture of the patients nutritional state
d. Reflects the effect of a high level of glucose on the ability to produce red blood cells (RBCs) - b.
Shows what the glucose level has done during the past 3 months
By analyzing the amount of glucose bound to the hemoglobin, the level of blood glucose can be
evaluated for the past 3 months because the glucose stays bound to the hemoglobin for the life of the
RBC.
A patient with type 2 diabetes shows a blood sugar reading of 68 at 6 AM. What action should the nurse
implement based on the reading of 72 mg/dL?
a. Notify the charge nurse of the reading.
b. Give regular insulin per a sliding scale.
c. Give him 8 oz of skim milk.
d. Administer the oral glucose tablet. - c. Give him 8 oz of skim milk.
The patient is hypoglycemic and needs an immediate source of glucose, such as milk or orange juice. The
oral hypoglycemic agent will not work quickly enough. The charge nurse can be notified later. Giving
insulin per a sliding scale would lower the blood sugar level.
A nurse assigned to care for a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is aware that this is a life-
threatening condition. What will DKA result in?
a. Disorder of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins metabolism
A nurse explains that type 1 diabetes mellitus is a disease in which the body does not produce enough
insulin. What is the reason that the blood glucose is elevated?
a. Prolonged elevation of stress hormone (cortisol, epinephrine, glucagon, growth hormone) levels
b. Malfunction of the glycogen-storing capabilities of the liver
c. Destruction of the beta cells in the pancreas
d. Insulin resistance of the receptor cells in the muscle tissue - c. Destruction of the beta cells in the
pancreas
Type 1 diabetes mellitus is a disease in which the pancreas does not produce adequate insulin because
of the destruction of beta cells.
A patient newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus asks the nurse why she has to take a pill
instead of insulin. The nurse explains that in type 2 diabetes mellitus, the body still makes insulin. What
other information is pertinent for the nurse to relay?
a. Overweight and underactive people cannot simply use the insulin produced.
b. Metabolism is slowed in some people, so they have to take a pill to speed up their metabolism.
c. Sometimes the autoimmune system works against the action of the insulin.
d. The cells become resistant to the action of insulin. Pills are given to increase the sensitivity. - d. The
cells become resistant to the action of insulin. Pills are given to increase the sensitivity.
Type 2 diabetes mellitus is a disease in which the cells become resistant to the action of insulin and the
blood glucose level rises. Oral hyperglycemic agents make the cells more sensitive.
A patient tells a nurse that she eats huge amounts of food but stays hungry most of the time. What
should the nurse explain as the cause of hunger experienced by persons with type 1 diabetes?
a. Excess amount of glucose
b. Need for additional calories to correct the increased metabolism
c. Fact that the cells cannot use the blood glucose
,d. Need for exercise to stimulate insulin secretion - c. Fact that the cells cannot use the blood glucose
The cells cannot use the glucose without insulin, so the patient with diabetes still feels hungry event
though abundant glucose is circulating in the blood.
What does the lack of insulin in patients with type 1 diabetes cause that increases the risk for
cardiovascular disorders?
a. High glucose levels that irritate and shrink the vessels
b. Inadequate metabolism of proteins, which causes ketosis
c. Increased fatty acid levels
d. Increased metabolism of ketones, which causes hypertension - c. Increased fatty acid levels
The increase in fatty acid levels causes an increase in the level of triglycerides and an attendant rise in
low-density lipoprotein levels.
The self-care goal of a patient with diabetes is to keep the blood sugar within normal limits. What
causes hyperglycemia to occur?
a. Blood glucose levels rise, stimulating the production of insulin.
b. Insulin conversion of glycogen to glucose is inhibited.
c. The body responds to glucose-starved tissues by changing stored glycogen into glucose.
d. Glycogen is unable to be stored in the liver and muscles. - c. The body responds to glucose-starved
tissues by changing stored glycogen into glucose.
The hypothalamus is receiving a message that the cells need glucose, so it responds by adding more
glucose to the already overburdened blood.
A young patient complains that diabetes is causing her to have no life at all. Its too hard. What is the
most helpful response by the nurse?
a. Yes, you must make some sacrifices.
b. Its hard, but with significant alterations in your lifestyle, you can live a long life.
c. Whats hard about exercise, diet, and medicine?
, d. Lets talk about what makes it so hard. - d. Lets talk about what makes it so hard.
Involving the patient in decisions about how she will cope with her diabetes will make the goals more
realistic and personal, which will give her a greater chance of success in meeting them.
When a patient with type 2 diabetes says, Why in the world are they looking at my hemoglobin? I
thought my problem was with my blood sugar. What should the nurse explain about the level of
hemoglobin A1c?
a. Shows how a high level of glucose can cause a significant drop in the hemoglobin level
b. Shows what the glucose level has done during the past 3 months
c. Indicates a true picture of the patients nutritional state
d. Reflects the effect of a high level of glucose on the ability to produce red blood cells (RBCs) - b.
Shows what the glucose level has done during the past 3 months
By analyzing the amount of glucose bound to the hemoglobin, the level of blood glucose can be
evaluated for the past 3 months because the glucose stays bound to the hemoglobin for the life of the
RBC.
A patient with type 2 diabetes shows a blood sugar reading of 68 at 6 AM. What action should the nurse
implement based on the reading of 72 mg/dL?
a. Notify the charge nurse of the reading.
b. Give regular insulin per a sliding scale.
c. Give him 8 oz of skim milk.
d. Administer the oral glucose tablet. - c. Give him 8 oz of skim milk.
The patient is hypoglycemic and needs an immediate source of glucose, such as milk or orange juice. The
oral hypoglycemic agent will not work quickly enough. The charge nurse can be notified later. Giving
insulin per a sliding scale would lower the blood sugar level.
A nurse assigned to care for a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) is aware that this is a life-
threatening condition. What will DKA result in?
a. Disorder of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins metabolism
