For last week’s practice question, we quizzed participants on best approach to treat hypoglycemia according to 2024 ADA Standards. 51% of respondents chose the best answer. We want to clarify and share this important information, so you can pass it on to people living with diabetes and your colleagues, plus prepare for exam success!

Before we start though, if you don’t want any spoilers and haven’t tried the question yet, you can answer it below: Answer Question

Question: The 2024 ADA Standards of Care includes expanded content on the prevention and treatment of hypoglycemia.

 Based on the updated guidelines for the treatment of hypoglycemia, which of the following is true?

Answer Choices:

1. If blood glucose is less than 70 mg/dL, treat with a combination of fast acting glucose and protein to sustain blood glucose levels.
2. Avoid use of glucagon emergency treatment for those with type 2 diabetes to prevent rebound hyperglycemia.
3. In community settings, check blood sugar to verify hypoglycemia before providing glucagon emergency treatment.
4. If individual has one or more episode of clinically significant hypoglycemia, consider short-term relaxation of glucose goals.

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Getting to the Best Answer

If you are thinking about taking the certification exam, this practice test question will set you up for success. Test writers anticipate possible answers based on the details in the question. They will wave those “juicy answers” right under your nose. Your job is to weed through the particulars, pluck out the most important elements and choose the BEST answer.

Answer 1 is incorrect. 23.44% chose this answer. “If blood glucose is less than 70 mg/dL, treat with a combination of fast acting glucose and protein to sustain blood glucose levels.” Part of this answer is correct. We need to treat a blood glucose of less than 70 with mg/dL with 15gms of carbohydrate. However, there is no recommendation to add protein to the carbohydrate treatment. As a matter of fact, adding protein (which if often combined with fat) can slow the absorption of the carbohydrate and delay glucose improvement. In addition, for people with beta cell function, the ingestion of protein can stimulate insulin production.

Answer 2 is incorrect. 9.31% of you chose this answer. “Avoid use of glucagon emergency treatment for those with type 2 diabetes to prevent rebound hyperglycemia.” The new standards recommend that all people using insulin therapy have access and training on glucagon rescue medications. See our Glucagon Pocketcards.

Answer 3 is incorrect. 16.61% of respondents chose this. “In community settings, check blood sugar to verify hypoglycemia before providing glucagon emergency treatment.” In the community or home setting, there may be limited access to glucose monitors and the public may not know how to check blood sugars, which could lead to delayed treatment for this emergency situation. For this reason, if a person has diabetes and is experiencing an episode of severe hypoglycemia, it is recommended to provide a glucagon rescue medication and activate the emergency response system if warranted. See our Glucagon Pocketcards.

Finally, Answer 4 is correct. 50.65% chose this answer. “If individual has one or more episode of clinically significant hypoglycemia, consider short-term relaxation of glucose goals.” YES, this is the BEST answer. If a person has an episode of clinically significant hypoglycemia, it is an indication that they may be taking too much insulin or diabetes medication. In addition, experiencing hypoglycemia puts individuals at a higher risk for another episode of significant hypoglycemia. Relaxing glucose goals and up-adjusting them can help the person re-set their “glucose thermostat” in a safer range with the ultimate goal of preventing future hypoglycemia.

We hope you appreciate this week’s rationale! Thank you so much for taking the time to answer our Question of the Week and participate in this fun learning activity!

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Accreditation: Diabetes Education Services is an approved provider by the California Board of Registered Nursing, Provider 12640, and our CPEU courses have received Prior Approval* from the Commission of Dietetic Registration (CDR), Provider DI002. Since our CPEU courses received Prior approval* from the CDR, these CPEU courses satisfy the CE requirements for the CDCES /BC-ADM regardless of your profession! 

The use of DES products does not guarantee the successful passage of the certification exam. CBDCE and ADCES do not endorse any preparatory or review materials for the CDCES or BC-ADM exams, except for those published by CBDCE & ADCES.