CDE Monitoring Techniques 5

Question 1

Which condition can cause falsely ELEVATED blood glucose readings on most electrochemical glucose meters?

Accepted Answer

Elevated hematocrit (polycythemia)

Answer

High hematocrit (polycythemia) can cause falsely elevated glucose readings on some meters because excess red cells trap glucose in the sample.

Question 2

A diabetes educator reviews a patient's logbook and notices glucose readings cluster in the 200–250 mg/dL range every day at 3:00 AM. What phenomenon should be investigated first?

Accepted Answer

Nocturnal hypoglycemia followed by rebound

Answer

Consistent early-morning hyperglycemia after nocturnal hypoglycemia (Somogyi effect) should be ruled out by checking a 3 AM glucose to determine if a true low precedes the high.

Question 3

A patient asks how to confirm CGM accuracy at home without a clinic visit. The recommended approach is:

Accepted Answer

Perform a fingerstick glucose when the CGM shows a stable (flat trend arrow) glucose and compare the values

Answer

Comparing CGM to a simultaneous fingerstick during stable (non-changing) glucose conditions provides the most reliable accuracy check.

Question 4

Which of the following SMBG testing schedules is most appropriate for a patient with type 2 diabetes who is well-controlled on diet and metformin alone?

Accepted Answer

As recommended by their provider, often periodic structured testing or less frequent monitoring

Answer

ADA guidelines support individualized, less frequent SMBG for non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes, with structured periodic testing to assess patterns when needed.

Question 5

A patient's CGM sensor warm-up period has just completed and the first reading is 55 mg/dL, but she feels fine with no hypoglycemia symptoms. What is the appropriate next step?

Accepted Answer

Perform a confirmatory fingerstick glucose before treating

Answer

CGM readings during the warm-up initialization period may be inaccurate; a confirmatory fingerstick should be performed before treating a suspected low.

Certified Diabetes Educator Test Practice Test

Certified Diabetes Educator Test Practice Test

CDE Monitoring Techniques 5