Certified Diabetes Care and Education
Specialist (CDCES) Real Exam With 100
Questions And 100% Correct Answers
With Rationales’
1. Which hormone is primarily responsible for lowering
blood glucose levels?
A. Glucagon
B. Cortisol
C. Growth hormone
D. Insulin
Insulin lowers blood glucose by allowing cellular uptake of
glucose, while the other hormones increase glucose levels.
2. A fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of 130 mg/dL is classified
as:
A. Normal
B. Prediabetes
C. Diabetes
D. Indeterminate
FPG ≥126 mg/dL on two separate occasions indicates
diabetes.
,3. Which class of medication stimulates pancreatic insulin
secretion?
A. SGLT2 inhibitors
B. Sulfonylureas
C. Biguanides
D. TZDs
Sulfonylureas increase insulin secretion from pancreatic beta
cells.
4. The primary action of metformin is to:
A. Stimulate insulin release
B. Slow gastric emptying
C. Reduce hepatic glucose production
D. Increase insulin resistance
Metformin decreases liver glucose output and improves
insulin sensitivity.
5. Which insulin has the fastest onset of action?
A. Regular insulin
B. NPH insulin
C. Lispro (rapid-acting)
D. Glargine
Rapid-acting insulins work within 10–15 minutes.
6. A1C reflects average blood glucose over approximately:
,A. 1 week
B. 1 month
C. 2–3 months
D. 6 months
Hemoglobin glycation corresponds to red blood cell lifespan
(about 120 days).
7. Which of the following is a symptom of hypoglycemia?
A. Polyuria
B. Blurred vision
C. Tremors
D. Weight gain
Tremors result from adrenergic response to low blood
glucose.
8. The recommended carbohydrate intake for treating mild
hypoglycemia is:
A. 5 g
B. 15 g
C. 30 g
D. 45 g
"15-15 rule": 15 g carbs and recheck in 15 min.
9. The dawn phenomenon is caused by:
A. Overnight hypoglycemia
B. Poor insulin absorption
, C. Early-morning hormone release increasing glucose
D. Excessive basal insulin
Growth hormone and cortisol cause early-morning glucose
rise.
10. The Somogyi effect is characterized by:
A. High bedtime glucose
B. Morning hyperglycemia after nighttime hypoglycemia
C. Low fasting insulin levels
D. Postprandial hyperglycemia
Nocturnal hypoglycemia triggers rebound hyperglycemia.
11. Which type of diabetes is characterized by autoimmune
destruction of beta cells?
A. Type 2
B. Type 1
C. Gestational
D. MODY
Type 1 is an autoimmune condition leading to insulin
deficiency.
12. The recommended starting dose of basal insulin in Type
2 diabetes is:
A. 0.1 units/kg
B. 0.1–0.2 units/kg
C. 0.5 units/kg
Specialist (CDCES) Real Exam With 100
Questions And 100% Correct Answers
With Rationales’
1. Which hormone is primarily responsible for lowering
blood glucose levels?
A. Glucagon
B. Cortisol
C. Growth hormone
D. Insulin
Insulin lowers blood glucose by allowing cellular uptake of
glucose, while the other hormones increase glucose levels.
2. A fasting plasma glucose (FPG) of 130 mg/dL is classified
as:
A. Normal
B. Prediabetes
C. Diabetes
D. Indeterminate
FPG ≥126 mg/dL on two separate occasions indicates
diabetes.
,3. Which class of medication stimulates pancreatic insulin
secretion?
A. SGLT2 inhibitors
B. Sulfonylureas
C. Biguanides
D. TZDs
Sulfonylureas increase insulin secretion from pancreatic beta
cells.
4. The primary action of metformin is to:
A. Stimulate insulin release
B. Slow gastric emptying
C. Reduce hepatic glucose production
D. Increase insulin resistance
Metformin decreases liver glucose output and improves
insulin sensitivity.
5. Which insulin has the fastest onset of action?
A. Regular insulin
B. NPH insulin
C. Lispro (rapid-acting)
D. Glargine
Rapid-acting insulins work within 10–15 minutes.
6. A1C reflects average blood glucose over approximately:
,A. 1 week
B. 1 month
C. 2–3 months
D. 6 months
Hemoglobin glycation corresponds to red blood cell lifespan
(about 120 days).
7. Which of the following is a symptom of hypoglycemia?
A. Polyuria
B. Blurred vision
C. Tremors
D. Weight gain
Tremors result from adrenergic response to low blood
glucose.
8. The recommended carbohydrate intake for treating mild
hypoglycemia is:
A. 5 g
B. 15 g
C. 30 g
D. 45 g
"15-15 rule": 15 g carbs and recheck in 15 min.
9. The dawn phenomenon is caused by:
A. Overnight hypoglycemia
B. Poor insulin absorption
, C. Early-morning hormone release increasing glucose
D. Excessive basal insulin
Growth hormone and cortisol cause early-morning glucose
rise.
10. The Somogyi effect is characterized by:
A. High bedtime glucose
B. Morning hyperglycemia after nighttime hypoglycemia
C. Low fasting insulin levels
D. Postprandial hyperglycemia
Nocturnal hypoglycemia triggers rebound hyperglycemia.
11. Which type of diabetes is characterized by autoimmune
destruction of beta cells?
A. Type 2
B. Type 1
C. Gestational
D. MODY
Type 1 is an autoimmune condition leading to insulin
deficiency.
12. The recommended starting dose of basal insulin in Type
2 diabetes is:
A. 0.1 units/kg
B. 0.1–0.2 units/kg
C. 0.5 units/kg
