Certified Diabetes Educator Test Certified Diabetes Educator Test Special Populations 1 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: At what gestational age is the standard 75-gram OGTT typically performed to screen for gestational diabetes?
- 10–14 weeks
- 16–20 weeks
- 24–28 weeks (Correct answer)
- 32–36 weeks
Correct answer: 24–28 weeks
Screening for gestational diabetes mellitus is performed at 24–28 weeks of gestation when placental hormones peak and insulin resistance is greatest.
Question 2: Which insulin type has the most established safety profile and is commonly used as basal insulin during pregnancy?
- Insulin glargine U-300
- NPH insulin (Correct answer)
- Insulin degludec
- Insulin glulisine
Correct answer: NPH insulin
NPH insulin has the most robust safety and efficacy data in pregnancy and remains the preferred basal insulin during gestation.
Question 3: The ADA recommends screening children with T1D for which autoimmune condition at diagnosis and periodically thereafter?
- Juvenile idiopathic arthritis
- Graves' disease
- Celiac disease (Correct answer)
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
Correct answer: Celiac disease
The ADA recommends celiac disease screening with tissue transglutaminase IgA antibodies in children with T1D due to shared autoimmune pathways.
Question 4: For an elderly patient with complex health status and multiple comorbidities, which HbA1c target is most appropriate?
- <6.5%
- <7.0%
- <7.5–8.0% (Correct answer)
- <9.0%
Correct answer: <7.5–8.0%
The ADA recommends less stringent HbA1c targets of 7.5–8.0% for elderly patients with complex health to minimize dangerous hypoglycemia.
Question 5: Poorly controlled gestational diabetes primarily increases the risk of which neonatal complication?
- Neonatal hypothyroidism
- Macrosomia and neonatal hypoglycemia (Correct answer)
- Neonatal jaundice alone
- Surfactant deficiency unrelated to birth weight
Correct answer: Macrosomia and neonatal hypoglycemia
High maternal glucose drives fetal hyperinsulinism, causing macrosomia (large birth weight) and neonatal hypoglycemia after delivery.
Question 6: Which diabetes type most commonly presents with diabetic ketoacidosis as the initial manifestation in pediatric patients?
- Type 2 diabetes
- MODY
- Type 1 diabetes (Correct answer)
- Gestational diabetes
Correct answer: Type 1 diabetes
Type 1 diabetes frequently presents with DKA in children due to rapid autoimmune destruction of beta cells causing absolute insulin deficiency.
At what gestational age is the standard 75-gram OGTT typically performed to screen for gestational diabetes?