CDE Exercise Prescription 4

Question 1

A patient with well-controlled type 2 diabetes and no complications asks about exercise during illness. What is the best advice?

Accepted Answer

Reduce intensity and monitor glucose closely; stop if glucose is very high or low or symptoms worsen

Answer

Illness raises glucose through stress hormones; light to moderate activity may be continued cautiously with close glucose monitoring, but high or very low glucose or worsening symptoms are reasons to stop.

Question 2

Which measure most directly assesses cardiorespiratory fitness and is used to guide aerobic exercise intensity in diabetes management?

Accepted Answer

VO2 max (maximal oxygen uptake)

Answer

VO2 max is the gold standard measure of cardiorespiratory fitness and is used to set aerobic exercise intensity as a percentage of maximal capacity.

Question 3

What insulin adjustment strategy is generally recommended for a patient with type 1 diabetes planning a 60-minute afternoon aerobic workout?

Accepted Answer

Reduce rapid-acting insulin at the meal before exercise by 25-75% depending on individual response

Answer

Reducing the premeal rapid-acting insulin dose by 25-75% before planned aerobic exercise helps prevent exercise-induced hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes.

Question 4

A sedentary 65-year-old with type 2 diabetes and mild osteoarthritis should be encouraged to begin physical activity with which approach?

Accepted Answer

Begin with low-intensity, short-duration activity and gradually progress

Answer

A gradual, progressive approach starting with low-intensity, shorter sessions minimizes injury risk and improves adherence in older sedentary adults with comorbidities.

Question 5

What is the mechanism by which regular aerobic exercise improves glycemic control in type 2 diabetes independent of weight loss?

Accepted Answer

It improves insulin sensitivity in skeletal muscle by increasing mitochondrial density and GLUT-4 expression

Answer

Regular aerobic exercise enhances insulin sensitivity by increasing mitochondrial biogenesis and upregulating GLUT-4 expression in skeletal muscle.

Certified Diabetes Educator Test Practice Test

Certified Diabetes Educator Test Practice Test

CDE Exercise Prescription 4