Diabetes Complications & Comorbidities 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which complication is the leading cause of death in people with diabetes?
- Diabetic nephropathy
- Cardiovascular disease (Correct answer)
- Diabetic ketoacidosis
- Peripheral artery disease
Correct answer: Cardiovascular disease
Cardiovascular disease, including coronary artery disease and heart failure, accounts for the majority of deaths in people with diabetes.
Question 2: Compared to adults without diabetes, those with diabetes have approximately how many times greater risk of developing cardiovascular disease?
- 2 times greater risk (Correct answer)
- Same risk as the general population
- 5 times greater risk
- 10 times greater risk
Correct answer: 2 times greater risk
Adults with diabetes have approximately 2-4 times greater risk of cardiovascular disease compared to people without diabetes.
Question 3: Which class of glucose-lowering medications has demonstrated significant cardiovascular outcome benefits in patients with type 2 diabetes and established cardiovascular disease?
- Sulfonylureas
- SGLT-2 inhibitors (Correct answer)
- Alpha-glucosidase inhibitors
- Meglitinides
Correct answer: SGLT-2 inhibitors
SGLT-2 inhibitors such as empagliflozin and canagliflozin have shown reduced rates of major adverse cardiovascular events and heart failure hospitalizations in major outcome trials.
Question 4: What does peripheral artery disease (PAD) involve in patients with diabetes?
- Inflammation of the small vessels in the feet
- Damage to the peripheral sensory nerves
- Venous insufficiency caused by hyperglycemia
- Atherosclerotic narrowing of arteries supplying the limbs (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Atherosclerotic narrowing of arteries supplying the limbs
PAD involves atherosclerotic narrowing of the arteries supplying the lower extremities, reducing blood flow and significantly increasing the risk of ulcers, infection, and amputation.
Question 5: Which combination of metabolic abnormalities defines metabolic syndrome, significantly amplifying cardiovascular risk in people with diabetes?
- High LDL, low triglycerides, hypertension, and obesity
- Abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides, low HDL, hypertension, and elevated fasting glucose (Correct answer)
- Low fasting glucose, low LDL, normal blood pressure, and low BMI
- Microalbuminuria, retinopathy, neuropathy, and nephropathy
Correct answer: Abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides, low HDL, hypertension, and elevated fasting glucose
Metabolic syndrome requires at least 3 of 5 criteria: abdominal obesity, elevated triglycerides, low HDL cholesterol, hypertension, and elevated fasting glucose.
Question 6: What is the ADA-recommended blood pressure target for most adults with diabetes to reduce cardiovascular and kidney complications?
- <120/80 mmHg
- <130/80 mmHg (Correct answer)
- <140/90 mmHg
- <150/90 mmHg
Correct answer: <130/80 mmHg
The ADA recommends a target blood pressure of less than 130/80 mmHg for most adults with diabetes to reduce cardiovascular and renal risks.
Question 7: Which type of stroke is more strongly associated with diabetes due to accelerated atherosclerosis and hypercoagulability?
- Hemorrhagic stroke
- Both types equally
- Subarachnoid hemorrhage
- Ischemic stroke (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Ischemic stroke
Ischemic stroke caused by arterial occlusion is more closely associated with diabetes because atherosclerosis and hypercoagulability promote blood clot formation.
Diabetes Complications & Comorbidities 2
Which complication is the leading cause of death in people with diabetes?