Mixed Deck — All CDE Topics Flashcards

A patient's blood glucose monitoring technique is being evaluated by a diabetes educator by having her do a test. Which of the following behaviors represents poor technique?

Answer: Milking the lanced finger at the tip to acquire a sufficient blood sample

Milking or excessively squeezing the lanced finger to obtain a blood sample is considered poor technique. This action can dilute the blood sample with interstitial fluid, leading to an inaccurate, often falsely low, blood glucose reading. It is recommended to allow a natural drop of blood to form or apply gentle pressure from the base of the finger upwards, rather than squeezing the tip.

Peer support in diabetes education is effective primarily because it:

Answer: Provides lived-experience modeling and reduces feelings of isolation

Peers with shared experiences normalize the challenges of living with diabetes and serve as credible role models, which Social Cognitive Theory identifies as vicarious learning.

Which theory of learning and health behavioral change holds that people learn from their own experiences as well as from watching how others behave and experience things?

Answer: Social Cognitive Theory (SCT)

Social Cognitive Theory (SCT) posits that learning occurs in a social context through dynamic interactions between a person, their environment, and their behavior. A key tenet of SCT is observational learning, where individuals learn from their own experiences as well as by observing the behaviors of others and the consequences that follow. This theory emphasizes self-efficacy and the role of social support in health behavior change.

What is the primary purpose of a 'suspend on low' feature on a sensor-augmented insulin pump?

Answer: Suspend insulin delivery when CGM glucose drops below a set threshold

The 'suspend on low' feature automatically pauses insulin delivery when CGM glucose falls below a programmed threshold to prevent or reduce hypoglycemia.

Problem-solving training in diabetes education typically follows which sequence?

Answer: Define problem → generate solutions → evaluate options → implement and review

Structured problem-solving follows a logical sequence: clearly define the problem, brainstorm solutions, evaluate them, then act and assess results.

Which behavioral model is used to assess a patient's readiness to make diabetes self-care changes?

Answer: Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change)

The Transtheoretical Model (Stages of Change) identifies where a patient falls on the spectrum from precontemplation to active maintenance of behavior change.

When teaching a patient with diabetes about label reading, what does the 'Total Carbohydrate' listing on a Nutrition Facts label include?

Answer: Sugars, fiber, and starch

Total Carbohydrate on the Nutrition Facts label includes all carbohydrates: sugars, dietary fiber, and starches.

What is the value of continuing education in behavioral strategies for Certified Diabetes Educator Test professionals?

Answer: It keeps professionals current with evolving standards and practices

Continuing education ensures professionals stay current with the latest developments, standards, and best practices in their field.

Which fasting plasma glucose value on two separate occasions confirms a diagnosis of diabetes?

Answer: ≥126 mg/dL

A fasting plasma glucose of ≥126 mg/dL confirmed on two separate occasions meets the diagnostic criteria for diabetes per ADA and WHO guidelines.

A patient with type 1 diabetes asks about driving safety. The educator should teach that:

Answer: Blood glucose should be checked before driving, and driving should be avoided if glucose is below 70 mg/dL

Hypoglycemia impairs cognition and reaction time before symptomatic awareness; checking glucose before driving and treating levels below 70 mg/dL prevents accidents.

Which exercise modality has been shown to attenuate post-exercise nocturnal hypoglycemia in type 1 diabetes?

Answer: Brief high-intensity interval exercise or resistance exercise

Brief high-intensity intervals or resistance exercise can stimulate glucose-raising counterregulatory hormones that help stabilize blood glucose overnight.

What is the most important professional competency for Certified Diabetes Educator Test certification in technology in diabetes?

Answer: Deep knowledge combined with practical application skills

Professional competency requires both deep knowledge of the subject matter and the ability to apply that knowledge in practical situations.

A patient with gestational diabetes asks what her carbohydrate intake should be at breakfast. What is the recommended range?

Answer: 15–30g

For gestational diabetes, breakfast carbohydrate is typically limited to 15–30g because insulin resistance is highest in the morning.

Which professional attribute is most valued in monitoring techniques within the Certified Diabetes Educator Test field?

Answer: Accountability and commitment to standards

Accountability and commitment to professional standards build trust and ensure consistent, high-quality practice.

A patient with type 2 diabetes consistently forgets to take their evening medication. Which behavioral strategy is most effective for addressing this?

Answer: Link medication-taking to an existing habit like brushing teeth

Habit stacking—linking a new behavior to an established routine—is a proven strategy to improve medication adherence.

A patient with proliferative diabetic retinopathy should avoid which type of exercise?

Answer: High-intensity weightlifting with Valsalva maneuver

Heavy resistance exercise with breath-holding (Valsalva) sharply increases intraocular and blood pressure, risking vitreous hemorrhage in proliferative retinopathy.

In type 1 diabetes, the primary immunological mediators of beta-cell destruction are:

Answer: Autoreactive CD4+ and CD8+ T lymphocytes

Autoreactive CD4+ helper and CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes are the principal mediators of beta-cell destruction in type 1 diabetes through a cell-mediated autoimmune process.

What is the most important professional competency for Certified Diabetes Educator Test certification in complications?

Answer: Deep knowledge combined with practical application skills

Professional competency requires both deep knowledge of the subject matter and the ability to apply that knowledge in practical situations.

A patient is prescribed empagliflozin (Jardiance) and develops painful urination with white discharge. What is the most likely adverse effect?

Answer: Genital mycotic infection due to glucosuria

SGLT2 inhibitors increase urinary glucose excretion, creating an environment that promotes genital mycotic (yeast) infections, especially in women.

What is the Talk Test as applied to exercise intensity prescription?

Answer: Moderate intensity allows comfortable conversation but not singing; vigorous intensity limits speech to a few words

The Talk Test is a practical intensity guide: moderate exercise allows conversation but not singing, while vigorous exercise allows only brief phrases.