Certified Diabetes Educator Test Special Populations Flashcards

Women with pre-existing diabetes should achieve which HbA1c level before conception to minimize fetal risk?

Answer: <7.0% (ideally <6.5% if achievable safely)

Preconception HbA1c below 7.0% (ideally <6.5%) significantly reduces the risk of congenital anomalies, particularly neural tube defects and cardiac malformations.

Which insulin regimen is the gold standard for managing hyperglycemia in non-ICU hospitalized patients with diabetes?

Answer: Basal-bolus insulin regimen

Basal-bolus insulin therapy provides scheduled basal coverage plus meal-time corrections and is the recommended regimen for hospitalized patients with diabetes.

Which psychosocial issue most commonly interferes with diabetes management in female adolescents with T1D?

Answer: Disordered eating and intentional insulin omission (diabulimia)

Disordered eating with intentional insulin omission for weight control (diabulimia) is a significant and dangerous issue in adolescent females with T1D.

For elderly patients with diabetes, which sulfonylurea is preferred to minimize prolonged hypoglycemia risk?

Answer: Glipizide

Glipizide is preferred in elderly patients because its shorter duration of action reduces the risk of prolonged hypoglycemia compared to long-acting agents like glyburide.

Which fasting blood glucose target does the ADA recommend for pregnant women with diabetes?

Answer: 70–95 mg/dL

The ADA recommends fasting blood glucose of 70–95 mg/dL in pregnant women with diabetes to prevent fetal macrosomia and other complications.

MODY (Maturity-Onset Diabetes of the Young) is best characterized by which feature?

Answer: Single-gene mutations causing beta cell dysfunction with strong family history

MODY results from monogenic defects in beta cell function, typically presents in young individuals, and is inherited in an autosomal dominant pattern.