REVIEW GUIDE FOR THE CERTIFIED DIABETES
EDUCATOR EXAM - 4TH EDITION
1. A diabetes educator is consulted to provide discharge education for an 18-year-old patient
diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Upon entering the hospital room, the educator finds the
patient quietly sobbing. The patient states that she is sad and anxious about her new diagnosis.
Before the patient leaves for home today, which of the following should the educator review
with the patient?
A. Signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and appropriate treatment
B. Epidemiology of diabetes and the incidence of depression
C. Incidence of birth defects associated with hyperglycemia
D. Lifestyle modifications and carbohydrate counting
ANS>>A.
2. A 22-year-old patient with type 1 diabetes comes to the diabetes educator for additional
educa- tion prior to starting on an insulin pump. During the visit, his cellular telephone rings,
indicat- ing text message. Later, when trying to schedule a follow-up visit, the patient lays
several other electronic devices on the counter while looking for his personal digital assistant
(PDA). Which of the following is the best way to tailor future educational interventions with this
patient?
A. Schedule education sessions in the morning to avoid text message interruptions
B. Offer online education for the patient to practice carbohydrate counting
C. Politely ask the patient to leave his cell phone at home
D. Enroll the patient in a group education class of patients with type 1 diabetes
ANS>>B.
,3. While covering the clinic for a sick colleague, a diabetes educator meets with a 56-year-old
man who owns his own construction business. Despite the patient's apparent business success,
his chart indicates that the he is illiterate. Which of the following is TRUE about literacy?
A. All patients will volunteer that they cannot read
B. Most illiterate patients are poor, immigrants, or minorities
C. Years of schooling is a good measure of literacy level
D. Most adults who are illiterate successfully hide their literacy deficit
ANS>>D.
4. A 45-year-old truck driver who takes metformin and glyburide reports that he has tried to
lose weight but nothing seems to work. Which of the following is the best follow-up question to
address this patient's weight loss concerns?
A. Do you carry glucose tablets with you to correct hypoglycemia?
B. Did you know that weight gain can be a side effect of taking metformin?
C. What types of foods do you eat when you are driving?
D. How often do check your blood glucose?
ANS>>C.
5. A 67-year-old man presents for evaluation of his glycemic control on glyburide therapy. He
has not seen his primary care physician in more than a year. Which of the following diabetes-
specific assessments should be performed today?
A. Dilated eye exam
B. Tuberculin skin test
C. Lower extremity exam
D. Gastric emptying test
ANS>>C.
, 6. A body mass index within the normal weight category is
A. Less than 18.5.
B. 18.5-24.9.
C. 25-29.9.
D. Greater than 30.
ANS>>B.
7. An intense fear of becoming fat even though underweight is characteristic of which of the fol-
lowing eating disorders?
A. Anorexia nervosa
B. Bulimia nervosa
C. Binge-eating disorder
D. Purging
ANS>>A.
8. Which of the following signs and symptoms suggests a diagnosis of hyperosmolar
hyperglycemic state (HHS) versus diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Dehydration
C. Absence of ketosis
D. Neurologic changes
ANS>>C.
9. Which of the following is an interfering factor that may affect the accuracy of A1C levels?
A. Low doses of aspirin (81 mg)
B. Sickle-cell hemoglobin
C. High white blood cell count
EDUCATOR EXAM - 4TH EDITION
1. A diabetes educator is consulted to provide discharge education for an 18-year-old patient
diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Upon entering the hospital room, the educator finds the
patient quietly sobbing. The patient states that she is sad and anxious about her new diagnosis.
Before the patient leaves for home today, which of the following should the educator review
with the patient?
A. Signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia and appropriate treatment
B. Epidemiology of diabetes and the incidence of depression
C. Incidence of birth defects associated with hyperglycemia
D. Lifestyle modifications and carbohydrate counting
ANS>>A.
2. A 22-year-old patient with type 1 diabetes comes to the diabetes educator for additional
educa- tion prior to starting on an insulin pump. During the visit, his cellular telephone rings,
indicat- ing text message. Later, when trying to schedule a follow-up visit, the patient lays
several other electronic devices on the counter while looking for his personal digital assistant
(PDA). Which of the following is the best way to tailor future educational interventions with this
patient?
A. Schedule education sessions in the morning to avoid text message interruptions
B. Offer online education for the patient to practice carbohydrate counting
C. Politely ask the patient to leave his cell phone at home
D. Enroll the patient in a group education class of patients with type 1 diabetes
ANS>>B.
,3. While covering the clinic for a sick colleague, a diabetes educator meets with a 56-year-old
man who owns his own construction business. Despite the patient's apparent business success,
his chart indicates that the he is illiterate. Which of the following is TRUE about literacy?
A. All patients will volunteer that they cannot read
B. Most illiterate patients are poor, immigrants, or minorities
C. Years of schooling is a good measure of literacy level
D. Most adults who are illiterate successfully hide their literacy deficit
ANS>>D.
4. A 45-year-old truck driver who takes metformin and glyburide reports that he has tried to
lose weight but nothing seems to work. Which of the following is the best follow-up question to
address this patient's weight loss concerns?
A. Do you carry glucose tablets with you to correct hypoglycemia?
B. Did you know that weight gain can be a side effect of taking metformin?
C. What types of foods do you eat when you are driving?
D. How often do check your blood glucose?
ANS>>C.
5. A 67-year-old man presents for evaluation of his glycemic control on glyburide therapy. He
has not seen his primary care physician in more than a year. Which of the following diabetes-
specific assessments should be performed today?
A. Dilated eye exam
B. Tuberculin skin test
C. Lower extremity exam
D. Gastric emptying test
ANS>>C.
, 6. A body mass index within the normal weight category is
A. Less than 18.5.
B. 18.5-24.9.
C. 25-29.9.
D. Greater than 30.
ANS>>B.
7. An intense fear of becoming fat even though underweight is characteristic of which of the fol-
lowing eating disorders?
A. Anorexia nervosa
B. Bulimia nervosa
C. Binge-eating disorder
D. Purging
ANS>>A.
8. Which of the following signs and symptoms suggests a diagnosis of hyperosmolar
hyperglycemic state (HHS) versus diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)?
A. Hyperglycemia
B. Dehydration
C. Absence of ketosis
D. Neurologic changes
ANS>>C.
9. Which of the following is an interfering factor that may affect the accuracy of A1C levels?
A. Low doses of aspirin (81 mg)
B. Sickle-cell hemoglobin
C. High white blood cell count
