A nurse is assessing a pregnant woman for risk factors for gestational diabetes.

Which of the following factors should the nurse identify as increasing the woman's risk?

The correct answer is choice D. Birth weight.

The nurse should measure the birth weight of the newborn to determine if the newborn has macrosomia.Macrosomia is a condition in which a baby has a weight of more than 8 pounds, 13 ounces at birth.It is commonly caused by medical conditions, such as obesity or diabetes, of the mother during pregnancy.

Choice A is wrong because head circumference is not a reliable indicator of macrosomia.Some babies may have a large head circumference due to genetic factors or hydrocephalus, but not necessarily due to macrosomia.

Choice B is wrong because chest circumference is not a reliable indicator of macrosomia.Some babies may have a large chest circumference due to genetic factors or congenital heart defects, but not necessarily due to macrosomia.

Choice C is wrong because abdominal circumference is not a reliable indicator of macrosomia.Some babies may have a large abdominal circumference due to genetic factors or abdominal wall defects, but not necessarily due to macrosomia.

The correct answer is

C. It transports glucose from the bloodstream into the cells for energy production.

Insulin is a hormone that regulates the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.It promotes the absorption of glucose from the blood into cells, where it can be used for energy or stored as glycogen or fat.It also inhibits glucose production and secretion by the liver and stimulates lipogenesis and protein synthesis.Insulin is essential for cell metabolism and low insulin levels can cause catabolism of body fat.

A. It converts glucose into glycogen for storage in the liver and muscles.

This statement is partially true, but not the main role of insulin.

Insulin does stimulate the formation of glycogen from glucose in the liver and muscles, but this is not its primary function.Glycogen is a form of stored glucose that can be mobilized when blood glucose levels are low.Insulin also inhibits the breakdown of glycogen (glycogenolysis) and the synthesis of glucose from amino acids and fatty acids (gluconeogenesis) in the liver.

B. It breaks down glucose into carbon dioxide and water for excretion in the urine and lungs.

This statement is false.

Insulin does not break down glucose, but rather facilitates its uptake by cells.

Glucose is broken down by a process called glycolysis, which produces pyruvate and ATP (energy).

Pyruvate can then enter the Krebs cycle and the electron transport chain to produce more ATP, carbon dioxide and water.Carbon dioxide is exhaled by the lungs and water is excreted by the kidneys.

Insulin has no direct role in these processes.

D. It stimulates glucose synthesis from amino acids and fatty acids in the liver.

This statement is false.

Insulin does not stimulate glucose synthesis, but rather inhibits it.

Glucose synthesis from non-carbohydrate sources, such as amino acids and fatty acids, is called gluconeogenesis.

This process occurs mainly in the liver and is stimulated by glucagon, a hormone that opposes insulin.Gluconeogenesis helps to maintain blood glucose levels when dietary intake or glycogen stores are low.Insulin suppresses gluconeogenesis by inhibiting the enzymes involved in this pathway.