Gestational Diabetes > Maternal & Newborn
Exam Review
Causes
Total Questions : 6
Showing 6 questions, Sign in for moreA nurse is teaching a pregnant woman about gestational diabetes.
Which of the following statements by the nurse is correct?
Explanation
The correct answer is choice C.Gestational diabetes is caused by a hormonal imbalance that reduces insulin sensitivity.
Insulin is a hormone that helps the body use glucose for energy and control blood glucose levels.During pregnancy, the body makes special hormones and goes through other changes that can make the cells less responsive to insulin, a condition called insulin resistance.Most pregnant women can produce enough insulin to overcome insulin resistance, but some cannot and develop gestational diabetes.
Choice A is wrong because gestational diabetes is not caused by an autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells.This is the cause of type 1 diabetes, which usually develops in childhood or adolescence.
Choice B is wrong because gestational diabetes is not caused by a genetic mutation that impairs insulin secretion.This is the cause of some rare forms of diabetes, such as maturity-onset diabetes of the young (MODY) or neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM).
Choice D is wrong because gestational diabetes is not caused by a viral infection that damages the insulin receptors.This is not a known cause of any type of diabetes.
Normal ranges for blood glucose levels during pregnancy are 3.5 to 5.9 mmol/L before meals and less than 7.8 mmol/L one hour after meals.
A nurse is caring for a pregnant woman who has gestational diabetes.
The nurse knows that the woman’s placenta produces hormones that have which of the following effects on her cells?
Explanation
The correct answer is choice C. They increase the resistance to insulin by the cells.This is because the placenta produces hormones such ashuman placental lactogen,growth hormone,prolactin,corticotropin-releasing hormone, andprogesteronethat can have a blocking effect on insulin.This is calledinsulin resistanceand it causes glucose to build up in the blood instead of being absorbed by the cells.
Choice A is wrong because the placental hormones do not increase the uptake of glucose by the cells, but rather decrease it by interfering with insulin action.
Choice B is wrong because the placental hormones do not decrease the production of glucose by the cells, but rather increase it by stimulating gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis in the liver.
Choice D is wrong because the placental hormones do not decrease the breakdown of glucose by the cells, but rather increase it by stimulating lipolysis and ketogenesis in adipose tissue.
A nurse is providing education to a pregnant woman diagnosed with gestational diabetes.
The nurse explains that gestational diabetes primarily occurs due to:.
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A.Gestational diabetes primarily occurs due to hormonal changes during pregnancy affecting insulin production and action.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your body use glucose for energy and control your blood glucose levels.
During pregnancy, your body makes special hormones and goes through other changes that cause insulin resistance, meaning your cells don’t use insulin well.
Most pregnant women can produce enough insulin to overcome insulin resistance, but some cannot.These women develop gestational diabetes.
Choice B is wrong because genetic factors are not the main cause of gestational diabetes, although having a family history of diabetes may increase the risk.
Choice C is wrong because inadequate dietary intake of glucose during pregnancy does not cause gestational diabetes.However, eating healthy foods and controlling weight gain are important for managing gestational diabetes.
Choice D is wrong because an autoimmune response targeting the pancreas is not the cause of gestational diabetes.
Autoimmune diseases occur when your immune system attacks your own cells.Type 1 diabetes is an example of an autoimmune disease that affects the pancreas and causes insulin deficiency.
Gestational diabetes is not an autoimmune disease and does not affect the pancreas.
A client with gestational diabetes asks the nurse about the role of insulin in managing the condition.
The nurse responds by explaining that insulin helps:.
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A.Insulin helps reduce insulin resistance in the cells.
Insulin resistance is a condition in which the cells do not respond well to insulin and cannot use glucose effectively.
This causes high blood sugar levels, which can harm the mother and the baby.
Insulin therapy can help lower blood sugar levels by increasing the uptake of glucose by the cells.
Choice B is wrong because insulin does not decrease the production of hormones by the placenta.The placenta produces hormones that can make insulin less effective, but insulin does not affect the placenta’s hormone production.
Choice C is wrong because insulin does not increase blood sugar levels for optimal fetal growth.
Insulin lowers blood sugar levels by delivering glucose to the cells.High blood sugar levels can cause problems for the baby, such as being very large, having low blood sugar after birth, or developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
Choice D is wrong because insulin does not prevent the development of type 1 diabetes.
Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease in which the body’s immune system destroys the insulin-producing cells in the pancreas.Gestational diabetes is not caused by a lack of insulin, but by other hormones produced during pregnancy that can make insulin less effective.Gestational diabetes usually goes away after delivery, but it can increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes later in life.
A nurse is discussing the causes of gestational diabetes with a pregnant client.
The nurse emphasizes that gestational diabetes develops when:.
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A. The pancreas fails to produce enough insulin during pregnancy.This is because gestational diabetes occurs when the body can’t make the extra insulin needed during pregnancy.Insulin is a hormone that helps the body use glucose for energy and control blood sugar levels.During pregnancy, the body makes more hormones and goes through other changes, such as weight gain, that cause insulin resistance.This means that the body’s cells don’t use insulin well and the blood sugar levels rise.
Choice B is wrong because consuming excessive amounts of sugary foods during pregnancy does not cause gestational diabetes.However, eating healthy foods and avoiding processed and baked foods can help prevent or manage gestational diabetes.
Choice C is wrong because hormones produced by the placenta decrease insulin sensitivity in the cells, not increase it.This makes it harder for the body to use insulin and lowers the amount of glucose that enters the cells.
Choice D is wrong because insulin production by the pancreas is not inhibited by certain medications.
However, some medications may affect blood sugar levels and should be used with caution during pregnancy.Always consult your doctor before taking any medication if you have gestational diabetes or are at risk of developing it.
A client diagnosed with gestational diabetes expresses confusion about why the condition occurs during pregnancy.
The nurse explains that gestational diabetes is primarily related to:.
Explanation
The correct answer is choice C.Gestational diabetes is primarily related to the production of hormones by the placenta affecting insulin action.
Insulin is a hormone that helps your body use glucose for energy and control your blood glucose levels.
During pregnancy, your body makes special hormones and goes through other changes that cause insulin resistance, meaning your body’s cells don’t use insulin well.
Most pregnant women can produce enough insulin to overcome insulin resistance, but some cannot.These women develop gestational diabetes.
Choice A is wrong because changes in the client’s metabolic rate during pregnancy are not the main cause of gestational diabetes.
Metabolic rate refers to how fast your body uses energy.
While pregnancy can affect your metabolic rate, it does not directly affect your insulin production or action.
Choice B is wrong because an autoimmune response triggered by the growing fetus is not the cause of gestational diabetes.
An autoimmune response is when your immune system attacks your own cells or tissues.
Gestational diabetes is not an autoimmune disease, but a condition related to hormonal changes.
Choice D is wrong because genetic mutations inherited from the client’s parents are not the primary cause of gestational diabetes.
Genetic factors may play a role in increasing the risk of developing gestational diabetes, but they are not the only factor.Other factors such as being overweight, having a family history of diabetes, or being older than 30 may also increase the risk.
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