For our March 16th Question of the Week, over 86% of respondents chose the best answer!

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

Question: PZ arrives for their diabetes appointment with their food diary and glucose log book. PZ’s blood glucose levels have improved since last visit by about 20 points, with morning glucose levels in the 130 range and bedtime glucose in the 180 range.  When you ask PZ about what changes they have made, PZ shrugs their shoulders and says, “I quit eating tortillas because my children said they are bad for me.”

What is the best response?

Answer Choices:

1. Good for you, giving up tortillas is really hard.
2. Your children sound like they are worried about your health?
3. Yes, we don’t recommend tortillas since they are high in starch.
4. How are you feeling about giving up tortillas?

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As shown above, the most common choice was option 4, the second most common answer was option 2, then option 1, and finally option 3.

Getting to the Best Answer

If you are thinking about taking the certification exam, the content of this practice test question will set you up for success. The exam will present questions that require test takers to apply a blend of science coupled with psychosocial awareness to determine the best answer.

Answers & Rationale

Answer 1 is incorrect, 2.31% chose this answer. “Good for you, giving up tortillas is really hard”. We notice that PZ shrugs their shoulders when they tell us they have given up tortillas. In addition, PZ states that they have stopped eating tortillas, not because they think it is best for them to stop, but because their children advised them that tortillas are bad. The word “bad” is loaded with judgment and perhaps PZ is feeling ashamed for eating this traditional food that has been part of their everyday life for decades. For this response, instead of affirming giving up tortillas, a better choice would be to explore this choice further.

Answer 2 is incorrect, 9.49% of you chose this answer. “Your children sound like they are worried about your health?” This seems like an accurate response, but is it the BEST response? The goal of DSME is to provide a person-centered approach. This question puts the emphasis on the children’s belief that tortillas are bad instead of exploring how the person with diabetes is responding to this drastic behavior change.

Answer 3 is incorrect, 1.28% of you chose this answer “Yes, we don’t recommend tortillas since they are high in starch.” One corn tortilla has 15gms of carbohydrate, plus fiber and other micronutrients. Tortillas can absolutely be included as part of a healthy meal plan. In addition, tortillas are more than a serving of starch, they are a central and traditional part of the meal for many cultures.

Answer 4 is correct, 86.92% of you chose this answer. ” How are you feeling about giving up tortillas?” GREAT JOB. Most of you chose this person-centered response which gives us an opportunity to see how giving up tortillas is impacting PZ from an emotional standpoint. As diabetes specialists, we know that eliminating tortillas completely may not be the best choice from an evidence-based and emotional perspective.

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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