Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) Practice Exam

What mental health issue is indicated by a patient worried about hypoglycemia at night, who compensates by eating ice cream and not adjusting their insulin dosage?

1. Depression

2. Eating disorder

3. Denial

4. Anxiety

The correct answer is: Anxiety

The scenario described reflects signs of anxiety, particularly related to the patient's fear of experiencing hypoglycemia during the night. This concern may lead to heightened levels of worry and stress, which are characteristic of anxiety disorders. The patient’s choice to eat ice cream without adjusting their insulin dosage suggests a coping mechanism driven by fear—eating sugary food to mitigate potential low blood sugar levels—demonstrating how the anxiety around hypoglycemia influences decision-making. In this context, anxiety manifests through excessive worry about health, potentially impacting the patient’s diabetes management. The other options may present certain behaviors but do not align as closely with the specific worry and resulting actions related to hypoglycemia. Thus, the connection between the patient’s mental state and their compensatory behaviors makes anxiety the most fitting interpretation of this scenario.