Question of the Week | Best action to address sudden Hyperglycemia due to Cellulitis?
RL is 83, has Latent Autoimmune Diabetes, and takes degludec 17 units every morning along with metformin 500 XR twice daily. RL tells you that their left leg was suddenly swollen and red, so they went to urgent care and were started on a course of antibiotics. In the meantime, their CGM is showing elevated blood sugars in the 200 to 350 range during the day but often less than 100 at night. RL weighs 70kg, with a BMI of 23.4.
Based on this information, what action do you suggest?
- Decrease carbohydrate intake by 20-25% until the infection subsides.
- Increase the degludec by 20% to get blood glucose levels to target.
- Encourage RL to walk after meals to decrease post prandial blood sugar levels.
- Suggest initiation of bolus insulin once or twice daily.
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Virtual DiabetesEd Training Conference – Join us Live on April 17th – 19th 2024 at 11:30 AM PST
Join Coach Beverly and Team for two and a half days of knowledge-sharing, fun, and “aha” moments for our Virtual DiabetesEd Training Conference April 17th – 19th, 2024.
Attendees will leave this conference with new tools and a refreshed understanding of the latest advances in person-centered diabetes care. Our team highlights the ADA Standards of Care, medications, behavior change, technology, medical nutrition therapy, and more!
Our instructors co-teach the content to keep things fresh and lively.
Friend Discount: 3 or more only $449 per person. Email us at info@diabetesed.net with the name and email of each registrant to get the discount!
Program Details
- Dates: April 17-19th, 2024
- Registration Fee: $399-$569 (see more about reg. options below)
- Friend Discount: For 3 or more people, each person saves $50 off their registration. Email us at info@diabetesed.net with the name and email of each registrant to get the discount!
- CEs: 30+ CEs | 18 units for Virtual Conference plus 10+ Bonus CEs. CEs can be applied toward CDCES’s initial application or renewal.
- Speakers: View Conference Faculty
Registration Options
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
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.
Big Change to CDCES Exam – Less Test Questions & Different Outline starting in July
We are excited to announce the most significant change to the CDCES Exam in the past 30 years (besides moving to computer testing from scantrons). If you plan on taking the CDCES exam after June 30, 2024, there will be fewer total questions and an increased focus on diabetes care and interventions.
The Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE) handbook states that only 175 questions are needed, instead of 200, to evaluate if an individual has adequate expertise and mastery of the test content.
If you are taking the test through June 30, you can expect the same number of questions, 200 multiple-choice questions, using the current CDCES test outline.
Starting July 1, there will only be 175 test questions based on an updated test outline.
Regardless of when you take the exam, certain things will remain the same.
There will still be 25 questions that are NOT counted in the final test score. These questions are scattered throughout the exam and allow for collection of meaningful statistics about new questions, but are
not used in the determination of individual examination scores.
In addition, this exam results are based on a “scaled score” to ensure that different exam versions are equally challenging. The CBDCE has made no mention of a decrease in the four hours to complete the exam, and certificants can still take the exam at a testing site or choose live remote proctoring.
With the current CDCES test outline, effective through June 30, 2024, here is how the counted 175 questions are divided by content (There are 200 questions, but only 175 count toward the final score)
- Assessment of the Diabetes Continuum – 59 questions
- Interventions for Diabetes Continuum – 88 questions
- Disease Management – 28 questions
For more details, please see the current CDCES Exam Content Outline | January – June 2024 page 21.
Starting July 1, 2024, the test outline will have significant changes. Here is how the counted 150 questions are divided by content (There are 175 questions, but only 150 count toward the final score)
- Assessment – 37 questions
- Care and Interventions – 105 questions
- Standards and Practices – 8 questions
For more details, please see the CDCES Exam Content Outline | July 1, 2024
A lot of the changes are under “Care and Education Interventions” sections on the exam content outline effective July 1, 2024. For complete eligibility and certification information, the 2024 Certification Examination for Diabetes Educators Handbook contains detailed instructions on applying, study resources, and exam content outlines.
Should I take the CDCES exam before or after the changes?
This is a great question, and Coach Beverly suggests carefully self-evaluating your testing style. If the thought of muscling through 200 questions seems overwhelming and question fatigue is an issue, consider taking the shorter version in July. However, as with any new exam, there may be some kinks to iron out, and there could be a slight delay in receiving test results in the first few months after the exam’s release, based on my experience. When there has been a test update in the past, the CBDCE took a few weeks to send the test results to test takers for a short time period.
Coach Beverly suggests basing your decision on your level of readiness. After reviewing the exam outline content, if you feel very familiar with the topics listed, plus you are scoring 80% or greater on practice exams, moving forward with the exam is a great choice. Keep in mind that the exam covers a wide breadth of information, from birth to death, plus during pregnancy, and addresses chronic and acute care in various settings. This means you will need to create a study plan that assesses knowledge gaps along with a plan to address those gaps.
Take a self-assessment short survey, “What Study Tools are Right for Me”
to help create your study path.
Will Your Online University Courses Prepare Students for the Updated Exam Content?
Yes, absolutely. We carefully consider the exam content outlines coupled with Coach Beverly’s test-taking experience when updating our program content.
Our online course content is updated each year based on a review of the latest ADA Guidelines and the CBDCE’s exam content outline. If the ADA Standards include new or updated information that is listed in the exam outline, we plug in these new medications, MNT approaches, goals, screening guidelines etc. into the course content. A big chunk of the changes starting in July are under the “Care and Education Interventions” section. The good news is that our library of courses already focus on person-centered care and the interventions that are outlined in section II, in the Exam Content Outline | July 1, 2024.
Coach Beverly also retakes the exam every renewal cycle for her certification so she can have a student’s perspective on sitting for the exam while developing course content. We try to focus specifically on material that is relevant for the exam, considers the overall ADA Standards of Care and ultimately improves quality of care delivered to people living with diabetes.
Our goal is to provide evidence-based, clinically relevant content that will also prepare participants for exam success. We’ve got you covered.
Conflict of Interest clarification:
Our company Diabetes Education Services has no relationship with the CBDCE. All of the information posted in this blog is based on Coach Beverly’s careful review of the 2024 Certification Examination for Diabetes Educators Handbook.
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
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.
Meet Brent McMenomey – Customer Advocate and Brand Ambassador
To provide exceptional customer service as our company continues to grow, we are excited to introduce Brent McMenomey, the newest member of our team. Brent is a perfect fit for our Customer Advocate & Brand Ambassador position given his extensive background in customer service, graphic design, and marketing.
As your Customer Advocate, he will always be sure your questions are answered and your concerns addressed. He has decades of experience in troubleshooting issues, both service-related and technical, and is always happy to help!
Brent loves nature, as well as animal lover with 3 dogs (Freya, Sadie and Wesley), a few chickens and 15 finches. Brent also has a YouTube Channel dedicated to gardening and small home renovations called Visit Our Garden that he films and edits with his partner. Welcome Brent!
Virtual DiabetesEd Training Conference – Join us Live on April 17th – 19th 2024 at 11:30 AM PST
Join Coach Beverly and Team for two and a half days of knowledge-sharing, fun, and “aha” moments for our Virtual DiabetesEd Training Conference April 17th – 19th, 2024.
Attendees will leave this conference with new tools and a refreshed understanding of the latest advances in person-centered diabetes care. Our team highlights the ADA Standards of Care, medications, behavior change, technology, medical nutrition therapy, and more!
Our instructors co-teach the content to keep things fresh and lively.
Friend Discount: 3 or more only $449 per person. Email us at info@diabetesed.net with the name and email of each registrant to get the discount!
Program Details
- Dates: April 17-19th, 2024
- Registration Fee: $399-$569 (see more about reg. options below)
- Friend Discount: For 3 or more people, each person saves $50 off their registration. Email us at info@diabetesed.net with the name and email of each registrant to get the discount!
- CEs: 30+ CEs | 18 units for Virtual Conference plus 10+ Bonus CEs. CEs can be applied toward CDCES’s initial application or renewal.
- Speakers: View Conference Faculty
Registration Options
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
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.
Question of the Week | What medication changes do you recommend?
RL was newly diagnosed 43 with type 2 diabetes 6 months ago with an initial A1C of 10.1%. They have no cardiovascular disease and their renal function is within normal limits. At a recent office visit, you notice RL’s A1C has dropped to 7.3, their BP is 112/78 and the LDL cholesterol is 103mg/dL. RL’s current medication regimen includes, rosuvastatin 10mg, empagliflozin 25mg, metformin 1000 BID, glargine 12 units and aspirin 81mg.
Based on this information, what changes to RL’s medication plan do you recommend to the provider?
- Consider increasing rosuvastatin and stopping ASA therapy.
- Consider stopping empagliflozin and starting GLP-1 RA to help with weight loss.
- Consider adding an ACE or ARB and increasing basal insulin.
- Consider increasing metformin and decreasing basal insulin.
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Want to learn more about this question?
Virtual DiabetesEd Training Conference – Join us Live on April 17th – 19th 2024 at 11:30 AM PST
Join Coach Beverly and Team for two and a half days of knowledge-sharing, fun, and “aha” moments for our Virtual DiabetesEd Training Conference April 17th – 19th, 2024.
Attendees will leave this conference with new tools and a refreshed understanding of the latest advances in person-centered diabetes care. Our team highlights the ADA Standards of Care, medications, behavior change, technology, medical nutrition therapy, and more!
Our instructors co-teach the content to keep things fresh and lively.
Friend Discount: 3 or more only $449 per person. Email us at info@diabetesed.net with the name and email of each registrant to get the discount!
Program Details
- Dates: April 17-19th, 2024
- Registration Fee: $399-$569 (see more about reg. options below)
- Friend Discount: For 3 or more people, each person saves $50 off their registration. Email us at info@diabetesed.net with the name and email of each registrant to get the discount!
- CEs: 30+ CEs | 18 units for Virtual Conference plus 10+ Bonus CEs. CEs can be applied toward CDCES’s initial application or renewal.
- Speakers: View Conference Faculty
Registration Options
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
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.
Rationale of the Week | Bone Fracture Prevention Based on 2024 ADA Standards
For last week’s practice question, we quizzed participants on bone fracture prevention based on ADA Standards. 47% 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: Since people with diabetes are at increased risk of fractures, the 2024 Standards have an increased focus on preventing bone fractures.
Which of the following is an accurate statement regarding diabetes and bone fractures?
Answer Choices:
- Annual bone scans are recommended starting at age 40 to determine fracture risk category.
- Individuals taking insulin or sulfonylureas are at higher risk of bone fractures.
- Most people with diabetes benefit from a vitamin D supplement.
- Refer individuals starting at age 65 for an assessment of fall risk.
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. 13.16% chose this answer. “Annual bone scans are recommended starting at age 40 to determine fracture risk category.” This answer is tempting, but it doesn’t match the ADA Standards that recommend to, “Monitor bone mineral density using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry of high-risk older adults with diabetes starting at age 65 and younger individuals with diabetes and multiple risk factors every 2–3 years.”
Answer 2 is correct. 47.06% of you chose this answer. “Individuals taking insulin or sulfonylureas are at higher risk of bone fractures.” Yes, this is the best answer. People taking medications that can cause hypoglycemia are at higher risk of falls. Clinicians need to consider the potential adverse impact on bone health when selecting pharmacological options to lower glucose levels in people with diabetes. Prioritizing medications with a proven safety profile for bones is recommended, particularly for those at elevated risk for fractures.
Answer 3 is incorrect. About 21.21% of respondents chose this. “Most people with diabetes benefit from a vitamin D supplement.” This answer is also tempting, but the ADA Standards of Care does not recommend vitamin therapy for “most people”. Vitamin therapy is based on an individual assessment of potential benefit.
Finally, Answer 4 is incorrect. 18.58% chose this answer. “Refer individuals starting at age 65 for an assessment of fall risk.” This answer is tempting, but the ADA recommends we individualize our approach and consider risk of falls and fractures on a ongoing basis. “Fracture risk should be assessed in older adults with diabetes as a part of routine care in diabetes clinical practice, according to risk factors and comorbidities”
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!
Learn more about Bone Fracture Prevention and ADA Standards
Virtual DiabetesEd Training Conference – Join us Live on April 17th – 19th 2024 at 11:30 AM PST
Join Coach Beverly and Team for two and a half days of knowledge-sharing, fun, and “aha” moments for our Virtual DiabetesEd Training Conference April 17th – 19th, 2024.
Attendees will leave this conference with new tools and a refreshed understanding of the latest advances in person-centered diabetes care. Our team highlights the ADA Standards of Care, medications, behavior change, technology, medical nutrition therapy, and more!
Our instructors co-teach the content to keep things fresh and lively.
Friend Discount: 3 or more only $449 per person. Email us at info@diabetesed.net with the name and email of each registrant to get the discount!
Program Details
- Dates: April 17-19th, 2024
- Registration Fee: $399-$569 (see more about reg. options below)
- Friend Discount: For 3 or more people, each person saves $50 off their registration. Email us at info@diabetesed.net with the name and email of each registrant to get the discount!
- CEs: 30+ CEs | 18 units for Virtual Conference plus 10+ Bonus CEs. CEs can be applied toward CDCES’s initial application or renewal.
- Speakers: View Conference Faculty
Registration Options
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
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.
Question of the Week | RS Doesn’t Want to Get Weighed
RS arrives at their quarterly diabetes provider appointment and the medical assistant walks them to the scale, in the clinic hallway, to get their weight. RS politely explains that they feel uncomfortable being weighed but they are happy to share their stated weight. The medical assistant once again encourages RS to get on the scale and reassures RS that they don’t need to look at or know their weight. RS sighs, takes off their shoes and reluctantly gets on the scale to be weighed.
Which of the following best describes the end result of this situation?
- The medical assistant used a person-centered approach to respect the wishes of RS.
- RS exhibited non-adherence and reconsidered their request.
- According to the transtheoretical model, RS was in preparation stage and needed gentle encouragement.
- The clinic staff would benefit from an inservice on providing weight inclusive care.
Click Here to Test your Knowledge
Virtual DiabetesEd Training Conference – Join us Live on April 17th – 19th 2024 at 11:30 AM PST
Join Coach Beverly and Team for two and a half days of knowledge-sharing, fun, and “aha” moments for our Virtual DiabetesEd Training Conference April 17th – 19th, 2024.
Attendees will leave this conference with new tools and a refreshed understanding of the latest advances in person-centered diabetes care. Our team highlights the ADA Standards of Care, medications, behavior change, technology, medical nutrition therapy, and more!
Our instructors co-teach the content to keep things fresh and lively.
Friend Discount: 3 or more only $449 per person. Email us at info@diabetesed.net with the name and email of each registrant to get the discount!
Program Details
- Dates: April 17-19th, 2024
- Registration Fee: $399-$569 (see more about reg. options below)
- Friend Discount: For 3 or more people, each person saves $50 off their registration. Email us at info@diabetesed.net with the name and email of each registrant to get the discount!
- CEs: 30+ CEs | 18 units for Virtual Conference plus 10+ Bonus CEs. CEs can be applied toward CDCES’s initial application or renewal.
- Speakers: View Conference Faculty
- Dates: April 17-19th, 2024
- Registration Fee: $399-$569 (see more about reg. options below)
- Friend Discount: For 3 or more people, each person saves $50 off their registration. Email us at info@diabetesed.net with the name and email of each registrant to get the discount!
- CEs: 30+ CEs | 18 units for Virtual Conference plus 10+ Bonus CEs. CEs can be applied toward CDCES’s initial application or renewal.
- Speakers: View Conference Faculty
Registration Options
Sign up for Diabetes Blog Bytes – we post one daily Blog Byte from Monday to Friday. And of course, Tuesday is our Question of the Week. It’s Informative and FREE! Sign up below!
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.
February 2024 eNews | 5 Diabetes Scholarships, CDCES Test Changes & Chronotype
Happy February
We celebrate love in February, which is central to diabetes care and education. We open our hearts as we carefully listen to people share their stories about living with diabetes. We celebrate successes and grieve losses alongside the individuals we serve every day. We speak our hearts when we advocate for evidence-based care that enhances well-being and improves outcomes.
In recognition of these daily contributions of diabetes care and education specialists, we are excited to announce our “Spreading the Love” Sale during the week of Valentine’s Day. Enjoy 15% off all our online courses, including program extensions.
This month’s newsletter includes a breaking post on the most significant change to the CDCES Exam in the past 30 years (besides moving to computer testing from scantrons). We also explore how chronotype can impact glucose levels and disease risk.
As our company continues to flourish, we have expanded our team to maintain top-tier customer service. We are delighted to introduce our new customer advocate, Brent McMenomey. If you call in, you might catch his cheerful voice on the other end of the phone. In addition, he will be helping Bryanna answer chat questions and emails. Welcome Brent!
We provide two rationales of the month based on the ADA Standards. We decided to post these questions with the rationales to include additional insights into the new and updated guidelines.
As part of our commitment to foster inclusivity, diversity, and accessibility, we are offering FIVE “Making a Difference” Scholarships for our Virtual DiabetesEd Training Course on April 17-19th. Thank you in advance for considering applying and sharing with your colleagues.
In the next few weeks, you will notice updates on our homepage that will make navigation and finding your favorite resources easier. Plus, we will be popping in some new informational videos.
With love and appreciation,
Coach Beverly, Bryanna, Brent, Andrew, and Ginger
Featured Articles
- Understanding Chronotype to Help with Glucose
- CDCES Exam – Big Changes Kick off in July
- Virtual Conference Scholarships Available
- Welcome Brent – Customer Advocate
- Rationale of the Week #1
- Rationale of the Week #2
FREE Webinars & Resources
- 15% Off All Online Courses – Starts Today
- Prep for BC-ADM Feb 8th
- Virtual Conference April 17-19th
- ReVive 5 Training Program May 22 & 29
Upcoming Events – See the complete calendar listing
Virtual DiabetesEd Training Conference – Join us Live on April 17th – 19th 2024 at 11:30 AM PST
Join Coach Beverly and Team for two and a half days of knowledge-sharing, fun, and “aha” moments for our Virtual DiabetesEd Training Conference April 17th – 19th, 2024.
Attendees will leave this conference with new tools and a refreshed understanding of the latest advances in person-centered diabetes care. Our team highlights the ADA Standards of Care, medications, behavior change, technology, medical nutrition therapy, and more!
Our instructors co-teach the content to keep things fresh and lively.
Friend Discount: 3 or more only $449 per person. Email us at info@diabetesed.net with the name and email of each registrant to get the discount!
Program Details
- Dates: April 17-19th, 2024
- Registration Fee: $399-$569 (see more about reg. options below)
- Friend Discount: For 3 or more people, each person saves $50 off their registration. Email us at info@diabetesed.net with the name and email of each registrant to get the discount!
- CEs: 30+ CEs | 18 units for Virtual Conference plus 10+ Bonus CEs. CEs can be applied toward CDCES’s initial application or renewal.
- Speakers: View Conference Faculty
- Conference Schedule >
- Conference Flyer >
Click Here for Registration Options
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.
Rationale of the Week | Best Intervention to address Elevated LDL?
For last week’s practice question, we quizzed participants on the best intervention to address elevated LDL. 40% 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:
MK is 67 years old and is concerned about cardiovascular disease risk and diabetes. Their last lab result showed an A1C of 6.8%, HDL of 38 and LDL of 132. MK started reading food labels and is concerned about their total fat intake each day and wants to make diet changes to reduce CVD risk.
According to the 2024 ADA Standards of Care, which evidence-based statement is most accurate when counseling MK about their fat intake?
Answer Choices:
- There is no one optimal percentage of calories from fat for people with diabetes.
- Try to limit saturated fat to less to 7% of calories each day.
- We suggest including 1 gram per day of Omega-3 supplement for prevention of cardiovascular events.
- The best approach is to reduce total fat to less than 30% of total calories per day.
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 correct. GREAT JOB! 39.89% chose this answer, “There is no one optimal percentage of calories from fat for people with diabetes.” The Standards of Care 2024 states, “There is no optimal percentage of calories from fat for people with diabetes or at risk for diabetes, and macronutrient distribution should be individualized.” In addition, there is no optimal percentage of calories from fat or saturated fat for people with diabetes and CVD prevention goals; however, they recommend to “limit” daily saturated fat consumption. The type of fat consumed is more important than the total amount of fat from calories.
Answer 2 is incorrect. 24.87% of you chose this answer. “Try to limit saturated fat to less to 7% of calories each day.” The standards of care do not have a recommended limit for saturated fat consumption but suggest that “people with diabetes or at risk for diabetes follow recommended guidelines for the general population.” The Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2020-2025 recommends less than 10% of calories from saturated fat. Even if considering tighter American Heart Association recommendations, they allow 5-6% of calories from saturated fat. Some eating patterns, such as the TLC diet from 2005, the DASH diet, or the Mediterranean diet, may include food choices where saturated fat is less than 7% of calories, but this is not a general population guideline.
Answer 3 is incorrect. About 13.43% of respondents chose this. “We suggest including 1 gram per day of Omega-3 supplement for prevention of cardiovascular events.” There is no recommendation for omega-3 supplementation in all persons with diabetes. Current evidence within the standard of care states that 1 gram of Omega 3 supplementation showed no benefit in preventing cardiovascular disease; however, within the REDUCE-IT trial, supplementation of pure EPA at 4 grams each day did lower cardiovascular events.
Answer 4 is incorrect. 21.81% chose this answer. “The best approach is to reduce total fat to less than 30% of total calories per day.” There is no specific recommendation for total fat amount to limit in a meal plan. The standards of care state, “The type of fat consumed is more important than the total.” They recommend following a Mediterranean-like eating pattern, which includes foods like fatty fish, nuts, and seeds and is rich in polyunsaturated and monounsaturated fats.
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!
Want to learn more about nutrition and the ADA Standards?
Level 3 | DiabetesEd Certification Boot Camp
with Coach Beverly, RN, MPH, CDCES &
Christine Craig, MS, RDN, CDCES
Airs live on February 13th – March 19th, 2024, at 11:30 am PT
Class Topics & Webinar Dates:
- February 13, 2024 – Boot Camp 1: Diabetes | Not Just Hyperglycemia | 1.75 CEs
- February 15, 2024 – Boot Camp 2: Standards of Care & Cardiovascular Goals | 1.8 CEs
- February 20, 2024 – Boot Camp 3: Meds for Type 2 | What you need to know | 1.75 CEs
- February 22, 2024 – Boot Camp 4: Insulin Therapy | From Basal/Bolus to Pattern Management | 1.75 CEs
- February 27, 2024 – Boot Camp 5: Insulin Intensive & Risk Reduction | Monitoring, Sick Days, Lower Extremities | 1.75 CEs
- February 29, 2024 – Boot Camp 6: Medical Nutrition Therapy | 1.75 CEs
- March 12, 2024 – Boot Camp 7: Microvascular Complications & Exercise | Screen, Prevent, Treat | 1.75 CEs
- March 14, 2024 – Boot Camp 8: Coping & Behavior Change | 1.75 CEs
- March 19, 2024 – Boot Camp 9: Test-Taking Coach Session (48 Questions) | No CE
Intended Audience: This library of critical information is designed for individuals or groups of diabetes specialists, including RNs, RDs, Pharmacists, Nurse Practitioners, Clinical Nurse Specialists, Physician Assistants, and other health care providers interested in staying up to date on current practices of care for people with diabetes and preparing for the BC-ADM or the CDCES certification Exam.
Can’t make it live? No worries. We will send post the recorded version to the Online University within 24 hours of the broadcast
Instructors: Beverly Thomassian RN, MPH, CDCES, has been Board Certified in Advanced Diabetes Management for over 15 years. She is an Associate Clinical Professor at UCSF, a working educator, and a nationally recognized diabetes expert.
Christine Craig, MS, RD, CDCES, winner of the 2023 Impact on Diabetes Award, is a leader in the field of nutrition, technology, and diabetes care. Her years of expertise combined with her person-centered approach and work ethic, make her a perfect speaker for this nutrition and activity focused content.
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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.
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