Special anaesthesia: diabetic patient: practice question

A Anaesthesia 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

Anaesthesia · Special anaesthesia: diabetic patient

Sample item

How should a patient with type 1 diabetes be managed for a morning operation?

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

The answer and the reasoning

D. Give the first slot, continue basal insulin, and give variable-rate insulin with dextrose while fasting

Basal insulin must be continued to avoid ketoacidosis, and glucose is monitored hourly with an intravenous insulin and glucose infusion. The patient is placed first on the list to shorten fasting.

Option by option

  • A. Give the full normal dose of short-acting insulin and nothing else

    Full short-acting dose without glucose causes hypoglycaemia.

  • B. Withhold all insulin

    Stopping all insulin may cause DKA.

  • C. Give oral sulphonylureas in the morning

    Sulphonylureas are not used in type 1.

  • D. Give the first slot, continue basal insulin, and give variable-rate insulin with dextrose while fasting (correct)

    Correct. Basal insulin with monitoring is essential.

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 Anaesthesia questions

Questions about this Anaesthesia question

What is the answer to this Anaesthesia question?

The best answer is D, Give the first slot, continue basal insulin, and give variable-rate insulin with dextrose while fasting. Basal insulin must be continued to avoid ketoacidosis, and glucose is monitored hourly with an intravenous insulin and glucose infusion.

Why is "Give the full normal dose of short-acting insulin and nothing else" not the answer?

Full short-acting dose without glucose causes hypoglycaemia.

Why is "Withhold all insulin" not the answer?

Stopping all insulin may cause DKA.

Why is "Give oral sulphonylureas in the morning" not the answer?

Sulphonylureas are not used in type 1.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Special anaesthesia: diabetic patient in Anaesthesia. The patient is placed first on the list to shorten fasting.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. 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 Special anaesthesia: diabetic patient?

Make a table of each agent, its key advantage and its main side effect. Then use the flashcards and the other Anaesthesia 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.