NSG 550 Exam 1 Diagnositc Qs and Ans with
Explanation | GRADED A+ | 100 %
GUARANTEED| | BRANDNEW!! | 2024 - 2026
An HbA1c level of 6.5% or higher on two separate occasions indicates:
A. Prediabetes
B. Diabetes
C. Gestational diabetes
D. Normal glycemia
Answer: B
Rationale: HbA1c ≥6.5% on two separate tests confirms a diagnosis of diabetes.
What is an advantage of using HbA1c for diabetes diagnosis?
A. Requires fasting
B. Measures average blood sugar over past 3 months
C. Only detects postprandial glucose
D. Requires drinking glucose solution
Answer: B
Rationale: HbA1c reflects long-term glycemic control and does not require fasting.
A 2-hour postprandial glucose level of 200 mg/dL or higher indicates:
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Diabetes
C. Normal glucose tolerance
D. Impaired fasting glucose
Answer: B
Rationale: Post-meal glucose ≥200 mg/dL on two occasions meets diabetes criteria.
C-Peptide levels are useful for:
A. Evaluating kidney function
B. Assessing islet cell function in diabetics
C. Measuring liver enzymes
D. Estimating cortisol levels
,Answer: B
Rationale: C-Peptide reflects endogenous insulin production and is helpful in patients
secretly administering insulin or evaluating insulinomas.
Decreased C-peptide levels are most likely seen in:
A. Type 2 diabetes without insulin
B. Diabetes patients on insulin therapy
C. Insulinoma
D. Hypoglycemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Exogenous insulin suppresses endogenous production, lowering C-peptide.
What is the first indicator of renal disease in diabetes, and how often should it be
screened?
A. Serum creatinine; monthly
B. Microalbumin; annually
C. BUN; quarterly
D. GFR; every 6 months
Answer: B
Rationale: Microalbuminuria is the earliest sign of diabetic nephropathy; annual screening
is recommended.
Normal cortisol levels are:
A. Higher in AM: 5–23 μg/dL; lower after 4 pm: 3–13 μg/dL
B. Constant throughout the day: 10 μg/dL
C. Only elevated in the morning: 50 μg/dL
D. Lower in AM than PM
Answer: A
Rationale: Cortisol follows a diurnal rhythm, peaking in the morning and declining in the
evening.
Cortisol levels are elevated in:
A. Addison’s disease
B. Hypopituitarism
C. Cushing syndrome, ACTH-producing tumors, hyperthyroidism, obesity
D. Secondary hypothyroidism
,Answer: C
Rationale: These conditions stimulate excess cortisol production.
A key diagnostic feature of Cushing syndrome is:
A. Cortisol decreases throughout the day
B. Cortisol remains high throughout the day
C. Low ACTH levels only
D. Low cortisol only
Answer: B
Rationale: In Cushing syndrome, normal diurnal suppression of cortisol is lost.
Low cortisol levels may indicate:
A. Addison’s disease
B. Cushing’s syndrome
C. Hyperthyroidism
D. Obesity
Answer: A
Rationale: Addison’s disease and adrenal insufficiency lead to chronically low cortisol.
Pregnancy affects cortisol levels by:
A. Decreasing stress response
B. Increasing cortisol due to physiologic stress
C. Eliminating diurnal variation
D. Suppressing ACTH entirely
Answer: B
Rationale: Pregnancy increases cortisol levels as part of stress adaptation.
Normal ACTH levels are:
A. Female: 6–58 pg/mL; Male: 7–69 pg/mL
B. Female: 0–20 pg/mL; Male: 0–20 pg/mL
C. Constant: 100 pg/mL
D. Not measurable in adults
Answer: A
Rationale: ACTH reference ranges vary slightly by sex and lab method.
, High cortisol with high ACTH indicates:
A. Cushing’s disease (pituitary cause)
B. Addison’s disease
C. Adrenal tumor
D. Hypopituitary syndrome
Answer: A
Rationale: Pituitary adenoma secretes excess ACTH, causing high cortisol.
High cortisol with low ACTH indicates:
A. Cushing’s disease
B. Cushing’s syndrome from adrenal tumor
C. Addison’s disease
D. Secondary hypothyroidism
Answer: B
Rationale: Adrenal tumors produce cortisol autonomously, suppressing ACTH.
ACTH stimulation test is used to:
A. Diagnose thyroid disorders
B. Evaluate adrenal gland response to ACTH
C. Measure insulin sensitivity
D. Determine renal function
Answer: B
Rationale: It helps differentiate adrenal vs. pituitary causes of adrenal insufficiency.
Insulin test normal range:
A. 0–5 μU/mL
B. 6–26 μU/mL
C. 30–50 μU/mL
D. 50–100 μU/mL
Answer: B
Rationale: Insulin within 6–26 μU/mL is considered normal fasting.
Insulin test is used to:
A. Diagnose insulinomas
B. Evaluate fasting hypoglycemia
Explanation | GRADED A+ | 100 %
GUARANTEED| | BRANDNEW!! | 2024 - 2026
An HbA1c level of 6.5% or higher on two separate occasions indicates:
A. Prediabetes
B. Diabetes
C. Gestational diabetes
D. Normal glycemia
Answer: B
Rationale: HbA1c ≥6.5% on two separate tests confirms a diagnosis of diabetes.
What is an advantage of using HbA1c for diabetes diagnosis?
A. Requires fasting
B. Measures average blood sugar over past 3 months
C. Only detects postprandial glucose
D. Requires drinking glucose solution
Answer: B
Rationale: HbA1c reflects long-term glycemic control and does not require fasting.
A 2-hour postprandial glucose level of 200 mg/dL or higher indicates:
A. Hypoglycemia
B. Diabetes
C. Normal glucose tolerance
D. Impaired fasting glucose
Answer: B
Rationale: Post-meal glucose ≥200 mg/dL on two occasions meets diabetes criteria.
C-Peptide levels are useful for:
A. Evaluating kidney function
B. Assessing islet cell function in diabetics
C. Measuring liver enzymes
D. Estimating cortisol levels
,Answer: B
Rationale: C-Peptide reflects endogenous insulin production and is helpful in patients
secretly administering insulin or evaluating insulinomas.
Decreased C-peptide levels are most likely seen in:
A. Type 2 diabetes without insulin
B. Diabetes patients on insulin therapy
C. Insulinoma
D. Hypoglycemia
Answer: B
Rationale: Exogenous insulin suppresses endogenous production, lowering C-peptide.
What is the first indicator of renal disease in diabetes, and how often should it be
screened?
A. Serum creatinine; monthly
B. Microalbumin; annually
C. BUN; quarterly
D. GFR; every 6 months
Answer: B
Rationale: Microalbuminuria is the earliest sign of diabetic nephropathy; annual screening
is recommended.
Normal cortisol levels are:
A. Higher in AM: 5–23 μg/dL; lower after 4 pm: 3–13 μg/dL
B. Constant throughout the day: 10 μg/dL
C. Only elevated in the morning: 50 μg/dL
D. Lower in AM than PM
Answer: A
Rationale: Cortisol follows a diurnal rhythm, peaking in the morning and declining in the
evening.
Cortisol levels are elevated in:
A. Addison’s disease
B. Hypopituitarism
C. Cushing syndrome, ACTH-producing tumors, hyperthyroidism, obesity
D. Secondary hypothyroidism
,Answer: C
Rationale: These conditions stimulate excess cortisol production.
A key diagnostic feature of Cushing syndrome is:
A. Cortisol decreases throughout the day
B. Cortisol remains high throughout the day
C. Low ACTH levels only
D. Low cortisol only
Answer: B
Rationale: In Cushing syndrome, normal diurnal suppression of cortisol is lost.
Low cortisol levels may indicate:
A. Addison’s disease
B. Cushing’s syndrome
C. Hyperthyroidism
D. Obesity
Answer: A
Rationale: Addison’s disease and adrenal insufficiency lead to chronically low cortisol.
Pregnancy affects cortisol levels by:
A. Decreasing stress response
B. Increasing cortisol due to physiologic stress
C. Eliminating diurnal variation
D. Suppressing ACTH entirely
Answer: B
Rationale: Pregnancy increases cortisol levels as part of stress adaptation.
Normal ACTH levels are:
A. Female: 6–58 pg/mL; Male: 7–69 pg/mL
B. Female: 0–20 pg/mL; Male: 0–20 pg/mL
C. Constant: 100 pg/mL
D. Not measurable in adults
Answer: A
Rationale: ACTH reference ranges vary slightly by sex and lab method.
, High cortisol with high ACTH indicates:
A. Cushing’s disease (pituitary cause)
B. Addison’s disease
C. Adrenal tumor
D. Hypopituitary syndrome
Answer: A
Rationale: Pituitary adenoma secretes excess ACTH, causing high cortisol.
High cortisol with low ACTH indicates:
A. Cushing’s disease
B. Cushing’s syndrome from adrenal tumor
C. Addison’s disease
D. Secondary hypothyroidism
Answer: B
Rationale: Adrenal tumors produce cortisol autonomously, suppressing ACTH.
ACTH stimulation test is used to:
A. Diagnose thyroid disorders
B. Evaluate adrenal gland response to ACTH
C. Measure insulin sensitivity
D. Determine renal function
Answer: B
Rationale: It helps differentiate adrenal vs. pituitary causes of adrenal insufficiency.
Insulin test normal range:
A. 0–5 μU/mL
B. 6–26 μU/mL
C. 30–50 μU/mL
D. 50–100 μU/mL
Answer: B
Rationale: Insulin within 6–26 μU/mL is considered normal fasting.
Insulin test is used to:
A. Diagnose insulinomas
B. Evaluate fasting hypoglycemia