CBDCE Exercise and Physical Activity 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: What is the recommended minimum amount of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week for adults with type 2 diabetes according to the ADA?
- 60 minutes
- 150 minutes (Correct answer)
- 300 minutes
- 90 minutes
Correct answer: 150 minutes
The ADA recommends at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity aerobic activity spread over at least 3 days.
Question 2: A person with type 1 diabetes wants to start a vigorous exercise program. Which pre-exercise blood glucose range is generally considered safe to begin exercise?
- Less than 70 mg/dL
- 70–250 mg/dL (Correct answer)
- 251–300 mg/dL
- Greater than 300 mg/dL
Correct answer: 70–250 mg/dL
A pre-exercise glucose of 70–250 mg/dL is generally considered safe; below 70 indicates hypoglycemia and above 250 with ketones warrants caution.
Question 3: Which type of exercise is most associated with causing delayed hypoglycemia (occurring hours after exercise) in people with type 1 diabetes?
- Short-duration high-intensity sprint intervals
- Prolonged moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (Correct answer)
- Brief resistance training sets
- Passive stretching sessions
Correct answer: Prolonged moderate-intensity aerobic exercise
Prolonged moderate-intensity aerobic exercise depletes glycogen stores, leading to increased glucose uptake during recovery and delayed hypoglycemia.
Question 4: What is the primary mechanism by which aerobic exercise acutely lowers blood glucose in type 2 diabetes?
- Increased hepatic glucose output
- Insulin-independent glucose uptake by contracting muscles (Correct answer)
- Decreased glucagon secretion
- Enhanced beta-cell insulin production
Correct answer: Insulin-independent glucose uptake by contracting muscles
Contracting muscles take up glucose via GLUT4 translocation independent of insulin, directly lowering blood glucose during aerobic exercise.
Question 5: A patient with diabetes has peripheral neuropathy. Which exercise precaution is most important to emphasize?
- Avoid all weight-bearing exercise
- Perform daily foot inspection before and after exercise (Correct answer)
- Limit exercise to water aerobics only
- Exercise only with a healthcare provider present
Correct answer: Perform daily foot inspection before and after exercise
Peripheral neuropathy reduces foot sensation, making daily foot inspection critical to detect blisters, ulcers, or injuries that may go unnoticed.
Question 6: Resistance training is recommended for people with diabetes primarily because it:
- Eliminates the need for aerobic exercise
- Increases muscle mass and improves insulin sensitivity (Correct answer)
- Rapidly reduces A1C by more than 3%
- Prevents all hypoglycemic episodes
Correct answer: Increases muscle mass and improves insulin sensitivity
Resistance training builds skeletal muscle mass, which is the primary site of insulin-mediated glucose disposal, thereby improving insulin sensitivity.
Question 7: When should a person with diabetes experiencing blood glucose of 65 mg/dL be advised to consume a carbohydrate snack before initiating exercise?
- Only if exercise will last more than 2 hours
- Before any planned exercise session regardless of duration (Correct answer)
- Only before vigorous-intensity exercise
- This glucose level is acceptable; no snack is needed
Correct answer: Before any planned exercise session regardless of duration
A blood glucose of 65 mg/dL is below the safe exercise threshold of 70 mg/dL and warrants carbohydrate intake before beginning any exercise.
CBDCE Exercise and Physical Activity 1
What is the recommended minimum amount of moderate-intensity aerobic exercise per week for adults with type 2 diabetes according to the ADA?