Diabetes Care: Glucose and Insulin Flashcards
7 cards from real LPN practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Diabetes Care: Glucose and Insulin flashcards as text
A patient with diabetes is NPO for a procedure. The provider orders to hold all oral antidiabetic agents. Which insulin type is MOST likely to still be administered?
Answer: Basal (long-acting) insulin at a reduced dose
Basal insulin maintains background glucose control even when the patient is fasting; rapid or meal-time insulin is withheld because there is no carbohydrate intake.
A patient's HbA1c result is 9.2%. What does this indicate?
Answer: Average blood glucose has been elevated over the past 2–3 months
HbA1c reflects average plasma glucose over approximately 2–3 months; a value of 9.2% indicates persistent hyperglycemia well above the ADA target of <7%.
Which of the following blood glucose values meets the ADA diagnostic criteria for diabetes mellitus?
Answer: Fasting plasma glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL on two separate occasions
The ADA requires a fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL confirmed on two separate occasions (or once with symptoms) to diagnose diabetes.
A patient with type 1 diabetes is found unresponsive with a blood glucose of 32 mg/dL. The LPN cannot establish IV access. What is the most appropriate next step?
Answer: Administer glucagon intramuscularly per protocol
Glucagon IM is indicated for severe hypoglycemia in an unconscious patient when IV access is unavailable; oral glucose risks aspiration in an unresponsive patient.
The nurse is preparing to administer insulin lispro (Humalog). When should this rapid-acting insulin be given relative to meals?
Answer: 0–15 minutes before the meal or immediately after the first bite
Rapid-acting analogs like lispro have an onset of 10–15 minutes and should be given just before or with meals to match their action to carbohydrate absorption.
A diabetic patient's Somogyi effect is suspected. Which assessment finding supports this?
Answer: Elevated fasting glucose after documented nocturnal hypoglycemia
The Somogyi effect (rebound hyperglycemia) occurs when nocturnal hypoglycemia triggers counter-regulatory hormone release, causing a high morning glucose.
Which foot-care instruction is most important for a patient with diabetic peripheral neuropathy?
Answer: Inspect feet daily for cuts, blisters, and redness because sensation is reduced
Reduced sensation means injuries go unnoticed; daily visual inspection is the cornerstone of diabetic foot care to catch problems early.