,NUR 257 Exam 3 Concepts of Aging & Chronic Illness Questions And
Answers 2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. Which mechanism best explains why type 1 diabetes mellitus
causes persistent hyperglycemia?
A) The kidneys cannot excrete glucose effectively
B) Pancreatic beta cells are destroyed, resulting in an absolute insulin
deficiency
C) Cells become resistant to thyroid hormone
D) The liver produces excessive insulin
Correct Answer: B) Pancreatic beta cells are destroyed, resulting in an
absolute insulin deficiency
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes results from autoimmune destruction of
pancreatic beta cells, causing little or no endogenous insulin production.
Q2. Which finding is most characteristic of type 2 diabetes mellitus
in an older adult?
A) Abrupt onset with severe weight loss
B) Complete absence of insulin production from disease onset
C) Gradual onset with few or nonspecific symptoms
D) Development exclusively during childhood
Correct Answer: C) Gradual onset with few or nonspecific symptoms
Rationale: Type 2 diabetes commonly develops gradually and may remain
unnoticed until hyperglycemia causes complications.
Q3. Hemoglobin A1C is most useful for determining which
information?
A) Average blood glucose control over approximately the previous 2–3
months
B) The patient's blood glucose at one specific moment
C) The amount of insulin produced during the previous hour
D) The patient's current serum potassium level
Correct Answer: A) Average blood glucose control over approximately the
previous 2–3 months
Rationale: A1C reflects the average level of blood glucose over roughly the
preceding 90 days.
Q4. An older adult with diabetes reports increased thirst and
frequent urination. What is the nurse's priority interpretation?
, A) The client is experiencing hypoglycemia
B) The client may have hyperglycemia
C) The client has developed hypothyroidism
D) The client is experiencing fluid overload
Correct Answer: B) The client may have hyperglycemia
Rationale: Hyperglycemia causes osmotic diuresis, producing polyuria and
compensatory increased thirst.
Q5. Which assessment finding is most concerning for hypoglycemia?
A) Warm, dry skin
B) Gradual weight gain
C) Increased thirst
D) Sweating with confusion and shakiness
Correct Answer: D) Sweating with confusion and shakiness
Rationale: Adrenergic and neurologic manifestations such as sweating,
tremor, confusion, and weakness are common signs of hypoglycemia.
Q6. Why can hypoglycemia be particularly dangerous in older
adults?
A) It always causes hypertension
B) Symptoms may be atypical or difficult to recognize
C) Older adults cannot develop hypoglycemia
D) It causes permanent hyperglycemia immediately
Correct Answer: B) Symptoms may be atypical or difficult to recognize
Rationale: Aging, comorbidities, medications, and altered physiologic
responses can make hypoglycemia less obvious and increase its
consequences.
Q7. Which complication represents microvascular damage
associated with diabetes?
A) Diabetic retinopathy
B) Myocardial infarction
C) Atrial fibrillation
D) Pulmonary embolism
Correct Answer: A) Diabetic retinopathy
Rationale: Retinopathy results from chronic damage to small blood vessels
and is a major microvascular complication of diabetes.
Answers 2026/2027 Galen College
Q1. Which mechanism best explains why type 1 diabetes mellitus
causes persistent hyperglycemia?
A) The kidneys cannot excrete glucose effectively
B) Pancreatic beta cells are destroyed, resulting in an absolute insulin
deficiency
C) Cells become resistant to thyroid hormone
D) The liver produces excessive insulin
Correct Answer: B) Pancreatic beta cells are destroyed, resulting in an
absolute insulin deficiency
Rationale: Type 1 diabetes results from autoimmune destruction of
pancreatic beta cells, causing little or no endogenous insulin production.
Q2. Which finding is most characteristic of type 2 diabetes mellitus
in an older adult?
A) Abrupt onset with severe weight loss
B) Complete absence of insulin production from disease onset
C) Gradual onset with few or nonspecific symptoms
D) Development exclusively during childhood
Correct Answer: C) Gradual onset with few or nonspecific symptoms
Rationale: Type 2 diabetes commonly develops gradually and may remain
unnoticed until hyperglycemia causes complications.
Q3. Hemoglobin A1C is most useful for determining which
information?
A) Average blood glucose control over approximately the previous 2–3
months
B) The patient's blood glucose at one specific moment
C) The amount of insulin produced during the previous hour
D) The patient's current serum potassium level
Correct Answer: A) Average blood glucose control over approximately the
previous 2–3 months
Rationale: A1C reflects the average level of blood glucose over roughly the
preceding 90 days.
Q4. An older adult with diabetes reports increased thirst and
frequent urination. What is the nurse's priority interpretation?
, A) The client is experiencing hypoglycemia
B) The client may have hyperglycemia
C) The client has developed hypothyroidism
D) The client is experiencing fluid overload
Correct Answer: B) The client may have hyperglycemia
Rationale: Hyperglycemia causes osmotic diuresis, producing polyuria and
compensatory increased thirst.
Q5. Which assessment finding is most concerning for hypoglycemia?
A) Warm, dry skin
B) Gradual weight gain
C) Increased thirst
D) Sweating with confusion and shakiness
Correct Answer: D) Sweating with confusion and shakiness
Rationale: Adrenergic and neurologic manifestations such as sweating,
tremor, confusion, and weakness are common signs of hypoglycemia.
Q6. Why can hypoglycemia be particularly dangerous in older
adults?
A) It always causes hypertension
B) Symptoms may be atypical or difficult to recognize
C) Older adults cannot develop hypoglycemia
D) It causes permanent hyperglycemia immediately
Correct Answer: B) Symptoms may be atypical or difficult to recognize
Rationale: Aging, comorbidities, medications, and altered physiologic
responses can make hypoglycemia less obvious and increase its
consequences.
Q7. Which complication represents microvascular damage
associated with diabetes?
A) Diabetic retinopathy
B) Myocardial infarction
C) Atrial fibrillation
D) Pulmonary embolism
Correct Answer: A) Diabetic retinopathy
Rationale: Retinopathy results from chronic damage to small blood vessels
and is a major microvascular complication of diabetes.
