Physical Activity & Exercise 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 Physical Activity & Exercise flashcards as text
A patient with long-standing type 1 diabetes and autonomic neuropathy asks about exercise safety. Which symptom pattern related to autonomic neuropathy poses the greatest exercise risk?
Answer: Impaired heart rate and blood pressure responses to exercise (chronotropic incompetence)
Cardiac autonomic neuropathy can blunt heart rate and BP responses to exercise, masking ischemia and causing unexpected cardiovascular events during activity.
Which carbohydrate intake strategy is generally recommended to prevent hypoglycemia during prolonged moderate-intensity exercise in type 1 diabetes?
Answer: 30–60 grams of carbohydrates per hour of exercise
Consuming 30–60 grams of carbohydrates per hour is a standard recommendation during prolonged moderate-intensity exercise to offset glucose utilization.
A CGM-wearing patient notices her glucose is rapidly dropping (falling at 2 mg/dL/min) 20 minutes into a run. What is the most appropriate immediate action?
Answer: Slow to a walk and consume 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates
A rapid downward glucose trend during exercise warrants slowing activity and consuming fast-acting carbohydrates to halt the decline before hypoglycemia occurs.
What is the primary concern with exercise in a patient whose blood glucose is 320 mg/dL with ketonuria?
Answer: Exercise will cause further hyperglycemia and worsen ketoacidosis
Hyperglycemia with ketonuria suggests insulin deficiency; exercise in this state can worsen ketoacidosis by further increasing counter-regulatory hormones and ketone production.
Which of the following patients requires a pre-exercise stress test before beginning a vigorous exercise program?
Answer: A 55-year-old with type 2 diabetes, known CAD, and sedentary lifestyle
Patients with known cardiovascular disease who are sedentary should undergo cardiac evaluation or stress testing before initiating vigorous exercise.
What effect does a single session of aerobic exercise have on GLUT4 expression in skeletal muscle?
Answer: It acutely increases GLUT4 translocation to the cell surface for up to 48 hours
Acute aerobic exercise triggers GLUT4 translocation to the plasma membrane via AMPK activation, enhancing glucose uptake for hours post-exercise.
A patient with diabetes and peripheral neuropathy reports numbness in her feet. What foot care instruction is most critical before she begins a walking program?
Answer: Inspect feet daily and wear well-fitting athletic shoes with moisture-wicking socks
Daily foot inspection and properly fitted footwear are essential for patients with neuropathy, as reduced sensation means injuries may go unnoticed.