Diabetes: diagnostic categories: practice question

A PSM question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

PSM · Diabetes: diagnostic categories

Sample item

An asymptomatic 45-year-old has a fasting plasma glucose of 112 mg/dL and a 2-hour plasma glucose of 128 mg/dL after a 75 g oral glucose load. How is her glycaemic state classified?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Impaired fasting glucose

Impaired fasting glucose is a fasting value of 110 to 125 mg/dL by the WHO criteria (100 to 125 by the ADA) with a 2-hour value below 140. Impaired glucose tolerance needs a 2-hour value of 140 to 199, and diabetes needs fasting 126 or more or 2-hour 200 or more. Her fasting value is raised but the post-load value is normal.

Option by option

  • A. Impaired glucose tolerance

    Impaired glucose tolerance requires a 2-hour value of 140 to 199 mg/dL, and hers is 128.

  • B. Normal glucose tolerance

    A fasting value of 112 is above the normal range by both WHO and ADA criteria.

  • C. Diabetes mellitus

    Diabetes needs fasting glucose of 126 or more or a 2-hour value of 200 or more, and neither is met.

  • D. Impaired fasting glucose (correct)

    Correct. A raised fasting value with a normal 2-hour value is impaired fasting glucose.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More PSM questions

Questions about this PSM question

What is the answer to this PSM question?

The best answer is D, Impaired fasting glucose. Impaired fasting glucose is a fasting value of 110 to 125 mg/dL by the WHO criteria (100 to 125 by the ADA) with a 2-hour value below 140.

Why is "Impaired glucose tolerance" not the answer?

Impaired glucose tolerance requires a 2-hour value of 140 to 199 mg/dL, and hers is 128.

Why is "Normal glucose tolerance" not the answer?

A fasting value of 112 is above the normal range by both WHO and ADA criteria.

Why is "Diabetes mellitus" not the answer?

Diabetes needs fasting glucose of 126 or more or a 2-hour value of 200 or more, and neither is met.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Diabetes: diagnostic categories in PSM. Impaired glucose tolerance needs a 2-hour value of 140 to 199, and diabetes needs fasting 126 or more or 2-hour 200 or more. Her fasting value is raised but the post-load value is normal.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Diabetes: diagnostic categories?

Practise biostatistics with small calculations until sensitivity, predictive values and risk measures are automatic. Then use the flashcards and the other PSM questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.