Page 1 of 33
PHARMACOLOGY DIABETES EXAM WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS,RATIONALES NEWEST
2026 EXAM VERIFIED 100 %
Pharm Exam (DIABETES)
The client has type 1 diabetes and receives insulin. He asks the nurse why he
can't just take pills instead. What is the best response by the nurse?
1. I know it is tough, but you will get used to the shots
2. Have you talked to your doctor about taking pills instead?
3. Insulin can't be in a pill form because it is destroyed in stomach acid
4. Insulin must be injected because it needs to work quickly
3. Insulin can't be in a pill because it is destroyed in stomach acid."
The nurse teaches a class for the public about diabetes mellitus. Which
individual does the nurse assess as being at highest risk for developing
diabetes?
1. The 38-year-old client who smokes one pack of cigarettes per day
2. The 42-year-old client who is 50 pounds overweight
3. The 50-year-old client who does not get any physical exercise
4. The 56-year-old client who drinks three glasses of wine each evening
2. The 42-year-old client who is 50 pounds overweight
Obesity increases the likelihood of developing diabetes mellitus due to
overstimulation of the endocrine system.
The client injects his insulin as prescribed, but then gets busy and forgets to
eat. What is the nurse's most likely assessment finding?
1. The client will be very thirsty
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2. The client will need to urinate
3. The client will have moist skin
4. The client will complain of nausea
3. the client will have moist skin
The client receives metformin Glucophage What will the best plan by the nurse
include with regard to patient education with this drug?
Select all that apply:
1. It decreases sugar production in the liver
2. It inhibits absorption of carbohydrates
3. It stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin
4. It reduces insulin resistance
5. It increases energy use
1. It decreases sugar production in the liver.
4. It reduces insulin resistance.
The client has diabetes type 1 and receives insulin for glycemic control. The
client tells the nurse that she likes to have a glass of wine with dinner. What
will the best plan by the nurse for client education include?
1. The alcohol could cause pancreatic disease and decrease insulin
production
2. The alcohol could predispose you to hypoglycemia
3. The alcohol could cause serious liver disease
4. The alcohol could predispose you to hyperglycemia
2. The alcohol could predispose you to hypoglycemia.
The client has type 1 diabetes mellitus and receives insulin. Which laboratory
test will the nurse assess?
1. Potassium
2. Serum amylase
3. AST
4. Sodium
2.Potassium
Insulin causes potassium to move into the cell and may cause hypokalemia.
The physician orders intravenous (IV) insulin for the client with a blood sugar
of 563. The nurse administers insulin lispro (Humalog) intravenously (IV). What
does the best evaluation by the nurse reveal?
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1. The nurse used the correct insulin
2. The nurse should have contacted the physician
3. The nurse should have used regular insulin (Humulin R)
4. The nurse could have given the insulin subcutaneously
3. The nurse should have used regular insulin (Humulin R)
Regular insulin is the only insulin that can be given intravenously
Insulin is released when
1. Blood glucose stays the same
2. Blood glucose increases
3. Blood glucose decreases
4. Glucagon increases
2. blood glucose increases.
What is the primary function of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas?
1. Secretion of enzymes
2. Acting as exocrine
3. Secretion of glucagon and insulin
4. Absorption of insulin
3. Secretion of glucagon and insulin
Which sign or symptom is most typical of an untreated client with type 1
diabetes?
1. Increased energy
2. Weight gain
3. Fatigue
4. Decreased hunger
3. fatigue
Fatigue is a typical sign/symptom of type 1 DM due to sustained hyperglycemia.
The nurse understands that which of the following drugs falls under the
classification of biguanides?
1. Metformin HCl
2. Repaglinide (Prandin)
3. Tolbutamide (Orinase)
4. Acarbose (Precose)
1.Metformin HCI is the only drug that falls within the classification of biguanides.
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The mechanism of action of regular insulin is to
1. Stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin
2. Promote entry of glucose into the cells
3. Promote the entry of glucose into the bloodstream
4. Stimulate the pancreas to secrete more insulin
2. Promote entry of glucose into the cells
The action of regular insulin is to promote entry of glucose into the cells, thereby
lowering glucose.
The client has been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 1. He asks the nurse
what this means. What is the best response by the nurse?
Select all that apply:
1. The exocrine function of your pancreas is to secrete insulin and it is not
working.
2. Without insulin you will develop ketoacidosis (DKA)."
3. "The endocrine function of your pancreas is to secrete insulin, but it isn't
working."
4. Your alpha cells should be able to secrete insulin, but it isn't working.
5. "It means your pancreas cannot secrete insulin."
2.Without insulin you will develop ketoacidosis (DKA)."
3"The endocrine function of your pancreas is to secrete insulin, but it isn't working."
5"It means your pancreas cannot secrete insulin."
The physician orders insulin lispro (Humalog), 10 units for the client. When will
the nurse administer this medication?
1. Thirty minutes before meals
2. Five minutes before a meal
3. When meal trays arrive on the floor
4. Fifteen minutes after meals
2. Five minutes before a meal
The onset of action for insulin lispro Humalog is 10 to 15 minutes so it must be given
when the client is eating
The physician writes orders for the client with diabetes mellitus. Which order
would the nurse validate with the physician?
1. Lantus insulin 20U BID
2. Administering regular insulin 30 min prior to meals
PHARMACOLOGY DIABETES EXAM WITH
CORRECT ANSWERS,RATIONALES NEWEST
2026 EXAM VERIFIED 100 %
Pharm Exam (DIABETES)
The client has type 1 diabetes and receives insulin. He asks the nurse why he
can't just take pills instead. What is the best response by the nurse?
1. I know it is tough, but you will get used to the shots
2. Have you talked to your doctor about taking pills instead?
3. Insulin can't be in a pill form because it is destroyed in stomach acid
4. Insulin must be injected because it needs to work quickly
3. Insulin can't be in a pill because it is destroyed in stomach acid."
The nurse teaches a class for the public about diabetes mellitus. Which
individual does the nurse assess as being at highest risk for developing
diabetes?
1. The 38-year-old client who smokes one pack of cigarettes per day
2. The 42-year-old client who is 50 pounds overweight
3. The 50-year-old client who does not get any physical exercise
4. The 56-year-old client who drinks three glasses of wine each evening
2. The 42-year-old client who is 50 pounds overweight
Obesity increases the likelihood of developing diabetes mellitus due to
overstimulation of the endocrine system.
The client injects his insulin as prescribed, but then gets busy and forgets to
eat. What is the nurse's most likely assessment finding?
1. The client will be very thirsty
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2. The client will need to urinate
3. The client will have moist skin
4. The client will complain of nausea
3. the client will have moist skin
The client receives metformin Glucophage What will the best plan by the nurse
include with regard to patient education with this drug?
Select all that apply:
1. It decreases sugar production in the liver
2. It inhibits absorption of carbohydrates
3. It stimulates the pancreas to produce more insulin
4. It reduces insulin resistance
5. It increases energy use
1. It decreases sugar production in the liver.
4. It reduces insulin resistance.
The client has diabetes type 1 and receives insulin for glycemic control. The
client tells the nurse that she likes to have a glass of wine with dinner. What
will the best plan by the nurse for client education include?
1. The alcohol could cause pancreatic disease and decrease insulin
production
2. The alcohol could predispose you to hypoglycemia
3. The alcohol could cause serious liver disease
4. The alcohol could predispose you to hyperglycemia
2. The alcohol could predispose you to hypoglycemia.
The client has type 1 diabetes mellitus and receives insulin. Which laboratory
test will the nurse assess?
1. Potassium
2. Serum amylase
3. AST
4. Sodium
2.Potassium
Insulin causes potassium to move into the cell and may cause hypokalemia.
The physician orders intravenous (IV) insulin for the client with a blood sugar
of 563. The nurse administers insulin lispro (Humalog) intravenously (IV). What
does the best evaluation by the nurse reveal?
, Page 3 of 33
1. The nurse used the correct insulin
2. The nurse should have contacted the physician
3. The nurse should have used regular insulin (Humulin R)
4. The nurse could have given the insulin subcutaneously
3. The nurse should have used regular insulin (Humulin R)
Regular insulin is the only insulin that can be given intravenously
Insulin is released when
1. Blood glucose stays the same
2. Blood glucose increases
3. Blood glucose decreases
4. Glucagon increases
2. blood glucose increases.
What is the primary function of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas?
1. Secretion of enzymes
2. Acting as exocrine
3. Secretion of glucagon and insulin
4. Absorption of insulin
3. Secretion of glucagon and insulin
Which sign or symptom is most typical of an untreated client with type 1
diabetes?
1. Increased energy
2. Weight gain
3. Fatigue
4. Decreased hunger
3. fatigue
Fatigue is a typical sign/symptom of type 1 DM due to sustained hyperglycemia.
The nurse understands that which of the following drugs falls under the
classification of biguanides?
1. Metformin HCl
2. Repaglinide (Prandin)
3. Tolbutamide (Orinase)
4. Acarbose (Precose)
1.Metformin HCI is the only drug that falls within the classification of biguanides.
, Page 4 of 33
The mechanism of action of regular insulin is to
1. Stimulate the pancreas to produce insulin
2. Promote entry of glucose into the cells
3. Promote the entry of glucose into the bloodstream
4. Stimulate the pancreas to secrete more insulin
2. Promote entry of glucose into the cells
The action of regular insulin is to promote entry of glucose into the cells, thereby
lowering glucose.
The client has been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus type 1. He asks the nurse
what this means. What is the best response by the nurse?
Select all that apply:
1. The exocrine function of your pancreas is to secrete insulin and it is not
working.
2. Without insulin you will develop ketoacidosis (DKA)."
3. "The endocrine function of your pancreas is to secrete insulin, but it isn't
working."
4. Your alpha cells should be able to secrete insulin, but it isn't working.
5. "It means your pancreas cannot secrete insulin."
2.Without insulin you will develop ketoacidosis (DKA)."
3"The endocrine function of your pancreas is to secrete insulin, but it isn't working."
5"It means your pancreas cannot secrete insulin."
The physician orders insulin lispro (Humalog), 10 units for the client. When will
the nurse administer this medication?
1. Thirty minutes before meals
2. Five minutes before a meal
3. When meal trays arrive on the floor
4. Fifteen minutes after meals
2. Five minutes before a meal
The onset of action for insulin lispro Humalog is 10 to 15 minutes so it must be given
when the client is eating
The physician writes orders for the client with diabetes mellitus. Which order
would the nurse validate with the physician?
1. Lantus insulin 20U BID
2. Administering regular insulin 30 min prior to meals
