Certified Diabetes Educator Practice Exam

Exercising with blood glucose levels over 250 mg/dL in a person with type 1 diabetes can lead to worsening hyperglycemia and the potential development of ketosis. At elevated blood glucose levels, especially above 250 mg/dL, the body may struggle to utilize glucose effectively for energy. This situation can trigger the liver to produce ketones as an alternate energy source, especially when insulin is insufficient or absent, which is typical when blood glucose levels are high. When muscles are exercised, they require energy, and in the absence of adequate insulin to facilitate glucose uptake, the body may rely on fat breakdown, leading to an increase in ketone production. This can culminate in a dangerous condition known diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), characterized by high ketone levels, metabolic acidosis, and further elevation of blood glucose levels. Therefore, exercising under such conditions can significantly exacerbate hyperglycemia and lead to ketosis, posing serious health risks. While nephropathy and neuropathy are complications of diabetes and related to long-term poor glycemic control, they are not directly acutely influenced by exercising at high blood glucose levels like hyperglycemia and ketosis are. Hypoglycemia could occur with exercise, but in this context, it does