CANADIAN DIABETES EDUCATOR EXAM QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS FOR
EFFECTIVE TEST PREPARATION
218 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. What is the normal range for fasting plasma glucose in Canada? A: 3.9-
6.0 mmol/L (70-108 mg/dL)
2. What are the diagnostic criteria for diabetes mellitus according to
Diabetes Canada? A: Fasting plasma glucose ≥7.0 mmol/L, 2-hour plasma
glucose ≥11.1 mmol/L during OGTT, random plasma glucose ≥11.1 mmol/L
with symptoms, or HbA1c ≥6.5%
3. What is the target HbA1c for most adults with diabetes in Canada? A:
≤7.0% (53 mmol/mol)
4. What is the pathophysiology of Type 1 diabetes? A: Autoimmune
destruction of pancreatic beta cells leading to absolute insulin deficiency
5. What is the pathophysiology of Type 2 diabetes? A: Insulin resistance
combined with progressive beta cell dysfunction leading to relative insulin
deficiency
6. What is gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)? A: Glucose intolerance with
onset or first recognition during pregnancy
7. What are the screening criteria for GDM in Canada? A: All pregnant
women should be screened between 24-28 weeks of gestation using a 50g
glucose challenge test
8. What is MODY? A: Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young - a monogenic
form of diabetes caused by mutations in genes affecting beta cell function
9. What is the dawn phenomenon? A: Early morning rise in blood glucose
due to increased growth hormone, cortisol, and catecholamine release
10. What is the Somogyi effect? A: Rebound hyperglycemia following
nocturnal hypoglycemia
, 11. What are the classic symptoms of hyperglycemia? A: Polyuria,
polydipsia, polyphagia, and unexplained weight loss
12. What is diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)? A: A serious complication
characterized by hyperglycemia, ketosis, and metabolic acidosis
13. What are the biochemical criteria for DKA? A: Blood glucose >14
mmol/L, ketones >3 mmol/L, and arterial pH <7.3 or bicarbonate <15 mmol/L
14. What is hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS)? A: A serious
complication with severe hyperglycemia (>33 mmol/L) and hyperosmolarity
without significant ketosis
15. What is the honeymoon period in Type 1 diabetes? A: A temporary
period of improved beta cell function following diagnosis, requiring reduced
insulin doses
16. What are the major histocompatibility complex genes associated with
Type 1 diabetes? A: HLA-DR and HLA-DQ genes, particularly DR3-DQ2 and
DR4-DQ8 haplotypes
17. What is C-peptide and its significance? A: A peptide released with insulin
that indicates endogenous insulin production
18. What is the difference between rapid-acting and short-acting insulin?
A: Rapid-acting has onset 10-15 minutes, peak 1-2 hours; short-acting has onset
30 minutes, peak 2-3 hours
19. What is insulin resistance? A: Decreased tissue sensitivity to insulin,
requiring higher insulin levels to achieve glucose control
20. What is metabolic syndrome? A: A cluster of conditions including central
obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia
21. What are autoantibodies associated with Type 1 diabetes? A: GAD, IA-
2, ZnT8, and insulin autoantibodies
22. What is LADA? A: Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults - slowly
progressive autoimmune diabetes in adults
23. What is the role of amylin in diabetes? A: A hormone co-secreted with
insulin that slows gastric emptying and promotes satiety
24. What is glucagon and its function? A: A hormone produced by pancreatic
alpha cells that raises blood glucose by promoting glycogenolysis
ANSWERS WITH DETAILED EXPLANATIONS FOR
EFFECTIVE TEST PREPARATION
218 QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1. What is the normal range for fasting plasma glucose in Canada? A: 3.9-
6.0 mmol/L (70-108 mg/dL)
2. What are the diagnostic criteria for diabetes mellitus according to
Diabetes Canada? A: Fasting plasma glucose ≥7.0 mmol/L, 2-hour plasma
glucose ≥11.1 mmol/L during OGTT, random plasma glucose ≥11.1 mmol/L
with symptoms, or HbA1c ≥6.5%
3. What is the target HbA1c for most adults with diabetes in Canada? A:
≤7.0% (53 mmol/mol)
4. What is the pathophysiology of Type 1 diabetes? A: Autoimmune
destruction of pancreatic beta cells leading to absolute insulin deficiency
5. What is the pathophysiology of Type 2 diabetes? A: Insulin resistance
combined with progressive beta cell dysfunction leading to relative insulin
deficiency
6. What is gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM)? A: Glucose intolerance with
onset or first recognition during pregnancy
7. What are the screening criteria for GDM in Canada? A: All pregnant
women should be screened between 24-28 weeks of gestation using a 50g
glucose challenge test
8. What is MODY? A: Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young - a monogenic
form of diabetes caused by mutations in genes affecting beta cell function
9. What is the dawn phenomenon? A: Early morning rise in blood glucose
due to increased growth hormone, cortisol, and catecholamine release
10. What is the Somogyi effect? A: Rebound hyperglycemia following
nocturnal hypoglycemia
, 11. What are the classic symptoms of hyperglycemia? A: Polyuria,
polydipsia, polyphagia, and unexplained weight loss
12. What is diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)? A: A serious complication
characterized by hyperglycemia, ketosis, and metabolic acidosis
13. What are the biochemical criteria for DKA? A: Blood glucose >14
mmol/L, ketones >3 mmol/L, and arterial pH <7.3 or bicarbonate <15 mmol/L
14. What is hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS)? A: A serious
complication with severe hyperglycemia (>33 mmol/L) and hyperosmolarity
without significant ketosis
15. What is the honeymoon period in Type 1 diabetes? A: A temporary
period of improved beta cell function following diagnosis, requiring reduced
insulin doses
16. What are the major histocompatibility complex genes associated with
Type 1 diabetes? A: HLA-DR and HLA-DQ genes, particularly DR3-DQ2 and
DR4-DQ8 haplotypes
17. What is C-peptide and its significance? A: A peptide released with insulin
that indicates endogenous insulin production
18. What is the difference between rapid-acting and short-acting insulin?
A: Rapid-acting has onset 10-15 minutes, peak 1-2 hours; short-acting has onset
30 minutes, peak 2-3 hours
19. What is insulin resistance? A: Decreased tissue sensitivity to insulin,
requiring higher insulin levels to achieve glucose control
20. What is metabolic syndrome? A: A cluster of conditions including central
obesity, insulin resistance, hypertension, and dyslipidemia
21. What are autoantibodies associated with Type 1 diabetes? A: GAD, IA-
2, ZnT8, and insulin autoantibodies
22. What is LADA? A: Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults - slowly
progressive autoimmune diabetes in adults
23. What is the role of amylin in diabetes? A: A hormone co-secreted with
insulin that slows gastric emptying and promotes satiety
24. What is glucagon and its function? A: A hormone produced by pancreatic
alpha cells that raises blood glucose by promoting glycogenolysis
