Blood Glucose Monitoring & Targets Flashcards
7 cards from real Diabetes practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Blood Glucose Monitoring & Targets flashcards as text
A patient with type 2 diabetes on metformin only reports consistent fasting glucose values of 95–105 mg/dL but an A1C of 8.2%. What is the most likely explanation?
Answer: Postprandial glucose excursions are elevating the A1C
A1C reflects average glucose over ~3 months, so high postprandial spikes can raise A1C even when fasting values appear normal.
According to ADA standards, what is the recommended preprandial blood glucose target range for most non-pregnant adults with diabetes?
Answer: 80–130 mg/dL
The ADA recommends a preprandial (before meal) plasma glucose target of 80–130 mg/dL for most non-pregnant adults.
A continuous glucose monitor (CGM) displays a double-arrow trending downward. What action should a patient taking insulin be advised to take?
Answer: Consume 15–20 g of fast-acting carbohydrate preemptively if below 90 mg/dL
A rapid downward trend arrow indicates falling glucose; ADA guidance supports treating impending hypoglycemia with carbohydrates when trending down rapidly and approaching the low threshold.
Which of the following factors can cause falsely LOW blood glucose readings on most home glucometers?
Answer: Hematocrit above 55% (polycythemia)
High hematocrit (polycythemia) causes falsely low glucometer readings because red blood cells compete with the glucose reaction on the test strip.
For a patient wearing a CGM, what is the minimum recommended 'Time in Range' (70–180 mg/dL) for most adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes?
Answer: 70%
International consensus recommends that most adults with diabetes achieve at least 70% time in range (70–180 mg/dL).
A patient uses a flash glucose monitoring system and notices the sensor reading is 220 mg/dL but she feels fine. She checks a fingerstick and gets 178 mg/dL. Which value should guide her insulin dosing decision?
Answer: The fingerstick value, as capillary blood is the reference standard
When sensor and fingerstick readings diverge significantly, the fingerstick capillary blood glucose is the reference standard for dosing decisions.
Which postprandial blood glucose target does the ADA recommend for most non-pregnant adults, measured 1–2 hours after the start of a meal?
Answer: Less than 180 mg/dL
The ADA recommends postprandial glucose less than 180 mg/dL (peak) for most non-pregnant adults with diabetes.