The nurse is administering insulin lispro (Humalog) and will keep in mind that this insulin will start to have an effect within which time frame?

Choice A rationale: Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease where the body's immune system destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas. This process is irreversible, leading to a permanent inability to produce insulin. The pancreas will not recover its function, and the client will always require exogenous insulin.
Choice B rationale: Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the absolute lack of insulin production due to the autoimmune destruction of the pancreatic beta cells. Without insulin, the body cannot utilize glucose for energy, a condition that is incompatible with life. Consequently, clients with type 1 diabetes will require lifelong insulin replacement therapy to survive.
Choice C rationale: Insulin is a peptide hormone that is destroyed by digestive enzymes in the gastrointestinal tract. Therefore, it cannot be taken orally in a pill form. Insulin must be administered via injection to be effective. Oral medications are typically used for type 2 diabetes, which involves insulin resistance or insufficient insulin production, not an absolute lack.
Choice D rationale: While exercise and diet are essential for managing blood glucose levels in all types of diabetes, they cannot replace the absolute lack of insulin in type 1 diabetes. These lifestyle modifications help improve insulin sensitivity and glucose utilization but do not stimulate the pancreas to produce the missing hormone.

Choice A rationale: Glycosylated hemoglobin, or HbA1c, is a blood test that provides an average of blood glucose levels over the preceding 2 to 3 months. It reflects the amount of glucose irreversibly attached to hemoglobin in red blood cells. Therefore, it is a crucial long-term indicator for monitoring the effectiveness of a client's diabetes management and treatment plan.
Choice B rationale: While HbA1c is used to diagnose diabetes, a single reading is often not enough. The primary purpose of this test once a client is diagnosed is to assess the long-term control of their blood glucose levels and guide adjustments in treatment, not to rediagnose the disease.
Choice C rationale: The HbA1c test measures the percentage of hemoglobin with attached glucose. Although anemia can affect the results by altering the red blood cell lifespan, the test itself is not used to diagnose anemia. Anemia is typically diagnosed through a complete blood count (CBC), which assesses hemoglobin, hematocrit, and red blood cell counts.
Choice D rationale: The HbA1c test reflects average blood glucose levels over the preceding 2 to 3 months, not just the previous 3 weeks. Red blood cells have a lifespan of approximately 120 days, and glucose attaches to the hemoglobin for the entire duration of the cell's life, providing a long-term picture of glycemic control.