Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) Practice Exam

For a patient on an insulin pump calculating their dosages, what does the sensitivity factor indicate?

1. The amount of insulin needed to lower blood glucose by 1 mg/dL

2. The total daily dosage of insulin required

3. The carbohydrates covered by a specific unit of insulin

4. The duration insulin remains active in the body

The correct answer is: The amount of insulin needed to lower blood glucose by 1 mg/dL

The sensitivity factor is a critical component in insulin pump therapy, as it helps guide the patient in calculating the amount of insulin needed to correct elevated blood glucose levels. Specifically, it indicates how much one unit of insulin will reduce blood glucose levels. For instance, if the sensitivity factor is set to a value of 30 mg/dL, this means that one unit of insulin is expected to lower the blood glucose by 30 mg/dL. This information is vital for patients to properly manage their blood glucose, especially when faced with hyperglycemia. When other options are considered, they pertain to different aspects of insulin management. The total daily dosage of insulin required relates to the overall insulin needs of the patient over a 24-hour period, which does not directly link to the sensitivity of how insulin lowers blood glucose. The carbohydrates covered by a specific unit of insulin is known as the insulin-to-carb ratio, which guides patients in determining how much insulin to administer based on carbohydrate intake, rather than the effect of insulin on blood glucose levels. Finally, the duration that insulin remains active in the body refers to its pharmacokinetics rather than its effect on lowering blood glucose, which is not what the sensitivity factor measures.