Key Concepts
Overview
Why diabetes is heavily tested on NCLEX-PN: Diabetes is the most prevalent chronic disease in the United States, with over 37 million adults affected. PNs care for diabetic patients in every care setting and must manage blood glucose monitoring, insulin administration, oral medications, patient education, and acute complications โ all within PN scope. Core definitions: - Type 1 DM: Autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells โ absolute insulin deficiency โ requires exogenous insulin for survival; typically diagnosed in children/young adults (but can occur at any age); NOT caused by lifestyle - Type 2 DM: Insulin resistance + progressive beta-cell dysfunction โ relative insulin deficiency; strongly linked to obesity, sedentary lifestyle, genetics; managed initially with lifestyle modification and oral agents; may require insulin as disease progresses - Gestational DM: Insulin resistance during pregnancy; resolves post-delivery but increases future T2DM risk NCLEX-PN distinction: Type 1 patients ALWAYS need insulin โ even during illness, even if not eating. Withholding insulin from a Type 1 patient causes DKA. On the exam, writers often pair stable-sounding options with unstable dataโnotice the mismatch before you commit.