NURSES' GUIDE TO TEACHING
DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT,
SECOND EDITION
2ND EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)RITA GIROUARD
MERTIG
TEST BANK
1) Insulin’s main job
Reference: Ch. 1 — How Insulin Works
Question:
A newly diagnosed patient asks why insulin matters if sugar is
already in the blood. The nurse explains that without enough
,insulin, the body cannot use glucose effectively. Which teaching
statement is the best explanation of insulin’s role?
A. “Insulin prevents all blood glucose from entering the
bloodstream.”
B. “Insulin helps glucose move from the blood into body cells
for energy.”
C. “Insulin converts glucose into protein for storage.”
D. “Insulin is only needed after meals to digest carbohydrates.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct:
Insulin acts like a key that helps glucose enter cells where it can
be used for energy. This is the core concept patients need to
understand when learning why diabetes causes hyperglycemia.
Rationale — Incorrect:
A. Insulin does not prevent glucose from entering the
bloodstream.
C. Insulin does not convert glucose into protein.
D. Insulin is needed throughout the day, not only after meals.
Teaching Point: Insulin moves glucose from blood into cells.
Citation: Mertig, R. G. (2019). Nurses' Guide to Teaching
Diabetes Self-Management (2nd ed.). Ch. 1.
2) Type 1 diabetes and insulin deficiency
Reference: Ch. 1 — Classification of Diabetes
,Question:
A 19-year-old arrives with vomiting, abdominal pain, and blood
glucose of 468 mg/dL. The provider suspects type 1 diabetes.
Which explanation best supports this classification?
A. “The pancreas makes too much insulin, causing low blood
sugar.”
B. “The body does not make enough insulin, so glucose builds
up in the blood.”
C. “The kidneys cannot filter glucose, so glucose stays in the
blood.”
D. “The cells use glucose too quickly, so the blood sugar rises.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct:
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by little to no insulin
production, leading to marked hyperglycemia and risk for
ketosis. This is the best explanation for the patient’s
presentation.
Rationale — Incorrect:
A. Type 1 diabetes is not caused by excess insulin.
C. Kidney filtering problems are not the primary cause of
diabetes.
D. Cells do not use glucose too quickly in diabetes.
Teaching Point: Type 1 diabetes means absolute or near-
absolute insulin deficiency.
, Citation: Mertig, R. G. (2019). Nurses' Guide to Teaching
Diabetes Self-Management (2nd ed.). Ch. 1.
3) Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance
Reference: Ch. 1 — Classification of Diabetes
Question:
A 54-year-old with obesity, family history of diabetes, and
acanthosis nigricans has fasting glucose readings in the 140s.
The patient asks why this is likely type 2 diabetes. Which nurse
response is best?
A. “Your body likely makes insulin, but your cells do not respond
to it well.”
B. “Your pancreas stopped making insulin years ago.”
C. “You only have diabetes because you ate too much sugar.”
D. “Type 2 diabetes always develops only in childhood.”
Correct Answer: A
Rationale — Correct:
Type 2 diabetes commonly involves insulin resistance, meaning
the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin. Over time,
insulin production may also decline.
Rationale — Incorrect:
B. Complete insulin absence is more typical of type 1 diabetes.
C. Diabetes is not caused simply by eating sugar.
D. Type 2 diabetes often develops in adulthood, not only in
childhood.
DIABETES SELF-MANAGEMENT,
SECOND EDITION
2ND EDITION
• AUTHOR(S)RITA GIROUARD
MERTIG
TEST BANK
1) Insulin’s main job
Reference: Ch. 1 — How Insulin Works
Question:
A newly diagnosed patient asks why insulin matters if sugar is
already in the blood. The nurse explains that without enough
,insulin, the body cannot use glucose effectively. Which teaching
statement is the best explanation of insulin’s role?
A. “Insulin prevents all blood glucose from entering the
bloodstream.”
B. “Insulin helps glucose move from the blood into body cells
for energy.”
C. “Insulin converts glucose into protein for storage.”
D. “Insulin is only needed after meals to digest carbohydrates.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct:
Insulin acts like a key that helps glucose enter cells where it can
be used for energy. This is the core concept patients need to
understand when learning why diabetes causes hyperglycemia.
Rationale — Incorrect:
A. Insulin does not prevent glucose from entering the
bloodstream.
C. Insulin does not convert glucose into protein.
D. Insulin is needed throughout the day, not only after meals.
Teaching Point: Insulin moves glucose from blood into cells.
Citation: Mertig, R. G. (2019). Nurses' Guide to Teaching
Diabetes Self-Management (2nd ed.). Ch. 1.
2) Type 1 diabetes and insulin deficiency
Reference: Ch. 1 — Classification of Diabetes
,Question:
A 19-year-old arrives with vomiting, abdominal pain, and blood
glucose of 468 mg/dL. The provider suspects type 1 diabetes.
Which explanation best supports this classification?
A. “The pancreas makes too much insulin, causing low blood
sugar.”
B. “The body does not make enough insulin, so glucose builds
up in the blood.”
C. “The kidneys cannot filter glucose, so glucose stays in the
blood.”
D. “The cells use glucose too quickly, so the blood sugar rises.”
Correct Answer: B
Rationale — Correct:
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by little to no insulin
production, leading to marked hyperglycemia and risk for
ketosis. This is the best explanation for the patient’s
presentation.
Rationale — Incorrect:
A. Type 1 diabetes is not caused by excess insulin.
C. Kidney filtering problems are not the primary cause of
diabetes.
D. Cells do not use glucose too quickly in diabetes.
Teaching Point: Type 1 diabetes means absolute or near-
absolute insulin deficiency.
, Citation: Mertig, R. G. (2019). Nurses' Guide to Teaching
Diabetes Self-Management (2nd ed.). Ch. 1.
3) Type 2 diabetes and insulin resistance
Reference: Ch. 1 — Classification of Diabetes
Question:
A 54-year-old with obesity, family history of diabetes, and
acanthosis nigricans has fasting glucose readings in the 140s.
The patient asks why this is likely type 2 diabetes. Which nurse
response is best?
A. “Your body likely makes insulin, but your cells do not respond
to it well.”
B. “Your pancreas stopped making insulin years ago.”
C. “You only have diabetes because you ate too much sugar.”
D. “Type 2 diabetes always develops only in childhood.”
Correct Answer: A
Rationale — Correct:
Type 2 diabetes commonly involves insulin resistance, meaning
the body’s cells do not respond properly to insulin. Over time,
insulin production may also decline.
Rationale — Incorrect:
B. Complete insulin absence is more typical of type 1 diabetes.
C. Diabetes is not caused simply by eating sugar.
D. Type 2 diabetes often develops in adulthood, not only in
childhood.
