Which factor in the history of a client with diabetes mellitus increases the client’s risk for nephropathy?
Daily consumption of artificial sweeteners.
Frequent episodes of hypoglycemia.
Moderate alcohol consumption.
Consistently elevated hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) levels.
The Correct Answer is D
Choice A reason: Artificial sweeteners do not directly contribute to diabetic nephropathy. Nephropathy results from chronic hyperglycemia damaging glomerular vessels. Sweeteners may affect diet but lack evidence linking them to renal damage, making this incorrect compared to elevated HbA1c, the primary driver of diabetic complications.
Choice B reason: Frequent hypoglycemia may cause acute symptoms but does not directly cause nephropathy. Chronic hyperglycemia, reflected by high HbA1c, damages renal glomeruli, leading to nephropathy. Hypoglycemia is a treatment complication, not a risk factor for renal damage, making this an incorrect choice.
Choice C reason: Moderate alcohol consumption may affect overall health but is not a primary risk factor for diabetic nephropathy. Chronic hyperglycemia, indicated by elevated HbA1c, drives glomerular damage. Alcohol’s impact is less direct, making this incorrect compared to the established link between poor glycemic control and nephropathy.
Choice D reason: Consistently elevated HbA1c reflects chronic hyperglycemia, the primary cause of diabetic nephropathy. High glucose levels damage glomerular capillaries, leading to proteinuria and renal decline. This is a well-established risk factor, supported by endocrinology evidence, making it the correct choice for increased nephropathy risk.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is C
Explanation
Choice A reason: Hypertensive crisis is not a feature of Addison’s disease, which causes hypotension due to cortisol and aldosterone deficiency. Cortisol kits address adrenal insufficiency during stress, not hypertension. This choice is incorrect, as it misaligns with Addison’s pathophysiology and cortisol’s role.
Choice B reason: Cortisol is not used for systemic allergic reactions, which require antihistamines or epinephrine. Addison’s patients need cortisol for adrenal insufficiency during stress, as their bodies cannot produce it. This choice is incorrect, as cortisol kits address hypoadrenalism, not anaphylaxis.
Choice C reason: Addison’s disease involves adrenal insufficiency, impairing cortisol production. Stress increases cortisol demand, which the patient cannot meet, risking adrenal crisis. Carrying a cortisol kit allows rapid administration during stress, preventing life-threatening hypotension or shock, aligning with endocrinology evidence for Addison’s management.
Choice D reason: Hyperglycemia is unrelated to Addison’s disease, which does not typically affect glucose metabolism. Cortisol kits address adrenal insufficiency, not blood glucose. This choice is incorrect, as cortisol replacement is for stress-induced hypoadrenalism, not glycemic control, per Addison’s pathophysiological basis.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
Choice A reason: Intermittent claudication in PAD results from arterial occlusion, reducing blood flow to muscles during activity, causing ischemic pain. Atherosclerotic plaques narrow arteries, limiting oxygen delivery, leading to pain relieved by rest. This is the core pathophysiology, aligning with evidence-based explanations for PAD’s hallmark symptom in client education.
Choice B reason: Muscle atrophy may occur in advanced PAD due to chronic ischemia, but it is not the primary cause of claudication. Claudication is acute ischemic pain during activity from arterial occlusion. Atrophy is a long-term consequence, making this incorrect for explaining the immediate pathophysiology of claudication.
Choice C reason: Reduced blood flow when legs are elevated may worsen PAD symptoms but is not the primary cause of claudication. Claudication occurs during activity due to arterial occlusion limiting oxygen delivery. Elevation affects chronic symptoms, not the acute ischemic pain central to claudication’s pathophysiology.
Choice D reason: Reddened color in dependent feet (rubor) indicates advanced PAD but does not cause claudication. Claudication is ischemic pain from arterial occlusion during activity, not a positional color change. This choice misrepresents the pathophysiology, as rubor is a sign, not the mechanism of claudication pain.
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