Pathophysiology Problems
This specific pancreatic cell type secretes insulin to lower blood glucose.
What are beta cells?
This standardized laboratory test measures average blood glucose control over the 120-day lifespan of red blood cells.
What is the glycosylated hemoglobin (A1C) test?
This biguanide is the first-line oral antidiabetic medication for Type 2 diabetes and works by inhibiting liver glucose production.
What is metformin?
Under the standard '15-15 rule' for mild hypoglycemia, a conscious patient is given this amount of fast-acting carbohydrate before retesting in 15 minutes.
What is 15 grams?
To prevent delayed hypoglycemia, patients with diabetes who consume alcohol should always ingest it with or shortly after this.
What is a meal (or food containing carbohydrates)?
The classic triad of initial symptoms caused by osmotic diuresis and cell starvation in untreated diabetes mellitus.
What are polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia?
According to ADA diagnostic criteria, a fasting plasma glucose level equal to or greater than this cutoff value confirms a diagnosis of diabetes.
What is 126 mg/dL?
Because of its fast onset of action (10–30 minutes), this class of insulin analog (e.g., lispro, aspart) must be administered within 10 minutes before eating.
What is rapid-acting insulin?
An acute emergency complication marked by severe hyperglycemia, metabolic acidosis, positive serum ketones, and fruity-smelling breath.
What is Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA)?
This sensory evaluation tool, applied with 10 grams of force at specific foot points, is recommended annually to test for loss of protective sensation.
What is the Semmes-Weinstein monofilament test?
This subtype of diabetes mellitus is characterized by autoimmune destruction of beta cells leading to an absolute insulin deficiency.
What is Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
(T1DM)?
For patients using continuous glucose monitoring (CGM), the target 'time-in-range' goal (70–180 mg/dL) is at least this percentage.
What is 70%?
This long-acting insulin analog provides steady basal coverage with no discernable peak over an 18-to-24-hour duration.
What is insulin glargine (or insulin detemir)?
Characterized by extreme hyperglycemia (>600 mg/dL) and severe hyperosmolarity (>320 mOsm/L) without significant ketosis, occurring most often in older adults with Type 2 diabetes.
What is Hyperglycemic-Hyperosmolar State (HHS)?
Patients with Type 1 diabetes are instructed NOT to exercise if urine testing reveals the presence of these acidic metabolic by-products.
What are ketones?
A cluster of simultaneous metabolic risk factors—including abdominal obesity, fasting blood glucose ≥100 mg/dL, hypertension, and hyperlipidemia—that increases the risk for Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease.
What is metabolic syndrome?
An A1C result falling within this specific percentage range indicates prediabetes.
What is 5.7% to 6.4%?
This class of oral antidiabetic agents (e.g., empagliflozin, canagliflozin) lowers blood glucose by preventing kidney reabsorption of filtered glucose into the blood.
What are Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors?
When administering glucagon to an unconscious hypoglycemic patient, the nurse should place the patient in this position to prevent aspiration from glucagon-induced vomiting.
What is side-lying (or lateral recovery position)?
Metformin must be withheld before surgical procedures or imaging tests using contrast agents to avoid acute kidney injury and this severe metabolic complication.
What is lactic acidosis?
A deep and rapid respiratory pattern triggered by severe metabolic acidosis in DKA to 'blow off' carbon dioxide.
What are Kussmaul respirations?
When checking capillary blood glucose levels, an abnormally low value of this blood component falsely elevates meter readings, whereas an elevated value depresses them.
What is hematocrit?
This subcutaneous amylin analog delays gastric emptying and promotes satiety, but must NEVER be mixed in the same syringe with insulin due to pH incompatibility.
What is pramlintide?
Morning hyperglycemia caused by a nighttime counterregulatory hormone surge in response to overnight hypoglycemia is known by this term.
What is the Somogyi phenomenon?
A progressive diabetic foot deformity characterized by warm, swollen tissue, arch collapse, and a classic 'rocker bottom' foot shape.
What is a Charcot foot?