Monitoring Techniques Flashcards

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

Answer: Elevated hematocrit (polycythemia)

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

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?

Answer: Nocturnal hypoglycemia followed by rebound

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.

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

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

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

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?

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

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

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?

Answer: Perform a confirmatory fingerstick glucose before treating

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

What is the primary purpose of performing structured SMBG testing using a '7-point profile' (before and 2 hours after each meal plus bedtime)?

Answer: To identify specific meal-related glucose patterns for targeted therapy adjustments

A 7-point structured profile reveals which meals cause the greatest glucose excursions, enabling targeted dietary or medication adjustments.

A diabetes educator is teaching a patient to use the 'Rule of 15' for hypoglycemia management. Which monitoring action is essential 15 minutes after initial treatment?

Answer: Recheck blood glucose to confirm it has risen above 70 mg/dL

The Rule of 15 requires rechecking blood glucose 15 minutes after consuming 15g of fast-acting carbohydrate to confirm adequate glucose recovery above 70 mg/dL.