Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) Practice Exam

How can hypoglycemia unawareness be managed effectively?

1. Reduce glucose and A1C goals.

2. Increase mealtime bolus size.

3. Avoid hypoglycemia.

4. Provide blood glucose management training.

The correct answer is: Increase mealtime bolus size.

The correct answer centers on the importance of avoiding hypoglycemia in individuals with hypoglycemia unawareness. When someone experiences frequent low blood sugar episodes, they may lose the ability to recognize the early warning signs of hypoglycemia, which can lead to dangerous situations. Therefore, effective management of hypoglycemia unawareness involves strategies to prevent low blood glucose levels from occurring in the first place. Although increasing mealtime bolus size might seem like a way to better manage overall blood sugar levels, it can actually increase the risk of hypoglycemia rather than mitigate it in a person with unawareness. Instead, focusing on strategies to avoid hypoglycemia entirely is crucial. These strategies include maintaining more stable blood glucose levels through appropriate changes in insulin dosages, meal planning that balances carbohydrates with insulin dosing, and engaging in consistent physical activity while being mindful of blood glucose levels. Providing training in blood glucose management is also important, but the key point here is that to effectively manage hypoglycemia unawareness, the primary goal is to avoid hypoglycemia and maintain blood glucose levels within a safe range. This approach is essential to help individuals regain their ability to recognize low blood sugar symptoms and to foster a safer and more consistent self-management