Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) Practice Exam

What represents the goal of continuous glucose monitoring in diabetes management?

1. Lower blood pressure levels

2. Improved quality of life

3. Reduction of hypoglycemic episodes

4. Lower medication adherence

The correct answer is: Reduction of hypoglycemic episodes

The goal of continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) in diabetes management focuses primarily on enhancing glycemic control and minimizing the risks associated with both hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia. By providing real-time data on glucose levels, CGM allows individuals with diabetes to make informed decisions regarding their diet, exercise, and insulin dosing in order to maintain glucose levels within a target range. The reduction of hypoglycemic episodes is a critical aspect of CGM because these episodes can have serious consequences on an individual's health. Frequent and severe hypoglycemia poses risks such as confusion, seizures, and even loss of consciousness. Continuous glucose monitoring helps patients identify trends and patterns in their glucose levels, enabling timely interventions to prevent these dangerous drops in blood sugar. While improved quality of life is also a beneficial outcome of using CGM, the primary technical goal is to enhance glucose level management and ensure safer glucose ranges, which reduces the incidence of hypoglycemic events. Lower blood pressure levels and lower medication adherence do not reflect the primary objectives or benefits of continuous glucose monitoring and are not relevant to its intended purpose in diabetes management.