Question 1

A nurse is educating an older adult with diabetes mellitus on minimizing the risk of cardiovascular disease. The nurse focuses on lipid levels. Which of the following are the recommended goals for lipid levels? (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Goals for acceptable lipid levels include: Cholesterol <200, LDL <100, HDL >40 (men), >50, (women) and triglycerides <150. Hb A_1C levels are not a measure of lipids.

Question 2

Which is the most likely reason that type 2 diabetes mellitus is often difficult to diagnose in older adults?

Accepted Answer

The symptoms are also often masked by normal aging changes and conditions common in older adults. Polydipsia often does not occur due to the decreased thirst mechanism in older adults, polyphagia is often not recognized due to normal appetite declines associated with aging, and polyuria is often not recognized due to frequent urinary tract infections in older adults. Presenting symptoms usually occur very slowly. Type 2 diabetes mellitus is very common in older adults. There are symptoms of diabetes mellitus in older adults; however, they may be different than those seen in younger adults.

Question 3

An older adult with type 2 DM who is being treated with insulin wants to increase his activity level and begin a walking program. What recommendations should the nurse provide to this patient?

Accepted Answer

If the person is using insulin, exercise needs to be done on a regular rather than an erratic basis. Exercise is an important part of diabetes self-management. In some cases, exercise in conjunction with an appropriate diet may be sufficient to maintain blood glucose levels within normal levels; however, it is not likely that insulin will be able to be discontinued.

Question 4

Hyperglycemia is harder to detect in older adults due to which of the following?

Accepted Answer

Hyperglycemia in older adults is harder to detect than in a younger adult. With aging there is a higher tolerance for elevated levels of circulating glucose. It is not unusual to find persons with fasting glucose levels of 200-600 mg/dL or higher. It is not true that older adults metabolize glucose at a faster rate than younger adults or that fingerstick glucose monitoring is inaccurate in older adults. While it is true that older adults usually do not have the classic symptoms of elevated glucose levels, this does not explain why hyperglycemia is harder to detect in older adults.

Question 5

A client is newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Which diagnostic test will best evaluate the management plan prescribed for this client?

Accepted Answer

Quarterly or biannual hemoglobin A_1C (Hb A_1C) is designed to provide information regarding the averaged glucose levels for a 3-month period of time. The periodic measurement of a glycated hemoglobin test (Hb A_1C) is the best measure of ongoing glycemic control. Eye examinations are important, but proper blood sugar control will help prevent the damaging effects of diabetes to the eyes. Proper foot care is important, but good blood sugar control will help prevent the damaging effects of diabetes on the feet. Biannual cholesterol testing is not relevant to the evaluation of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Question 6

A nurse is educating an older adult with diabetes on glucose self-monitoring. When developing the teaching plan, the nurse includes which of the following goals in the teaching plan? The patient will: (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Option D is important for an older person with diabetes; however, it is not directly related to glucose self-monitoring. Option E is important for a person who is taking insulin, however is not directly related to glucose self-monitoring.

Question 7

An older patient asks a nurse: "I went to my diabetes doctor and everything was stable. The nurse practitioner spent the entire time teaching me about decreasing my risks of heart disease. It seemed odd that she did not focus on teaching me how to better control my diabetes. Do you know why?" The nurse formulates a response based on the understanding that: (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

While glycemic control is important, more emphasis is now on the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases. Research has indicated that it may take 8 years of glycemic control before benefits are seen while the benefits of better control of blood pressure and lipids are seen as early as 2-3 years. Promoting cardiovascular health has the potential to be the most efficacious in the minimization of complications in the persons with DM. Education on self-management of diabetes is important for patients of all ages. Diabetes is a common chronic condition in older adults.

Question 8

A nurse is caring for an older adult who is diagnosed with type 2 Diabetes. The patient is prescribed oral medication for diabetes. The nurse can expect that which of the following medications is prescribed as a first-line therapy?

Accepted Answer

Metformin (Glucophage) is commonly prescribed as first-line therapy; it does not cause hypoglycemia or weight gain. Sulfonylureas were used for many years as first-line agents for all persons with type 2 DM. However, they are associated with hypoglycemia and can only be used in persons who can either be aware of the signs themselves or who have a caregiver capable of doing so; therefore, Metformin is considered the first line of therapy. Insulin is used for individuals with type 2 DM; however, it is not first-line therapy. Chlorpropramide is contraindicated due to a long half-life and the fact that it can cause prolonged hypoglycemia.

Question 9

A nurse works in an outpatient diabetes clinic. The nurse knows that the minimum standard of care for a patient with diabetes includes the following at each visit: (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Minimum standards of care for an individual with diabetes include the following at each visit: Monitoring weight and BP, inspecting feet, reviewing self-monitoring glucose record, reviewing/adjusting medications as needed, reviewing self-management skills/goals, assessing mood, counseling on tobacco and alcohol use. Obtaining hemoglobin A₁C is recommended at quarterly intervals and obtaining fasting lipid profile and serum creatinine is recommended annually.

Question 10

A nurse is caring for an older adult who has metabolic syndrome. The nurse knows that the following conditions are common in persons with metabolic syndrome: (Select all that apply.)

Accepted Answer

Metabolic syndrome is characterized by higher than normal glucose levels, increased waist size due to excess abdominal fat, high blood pressure, and abnormal levels of cholesterol and triglycerides in the blood.

Quiz 24: Endocrine and Immune Disorders