DANB General Chairside Practice Test

What condition may a diabetic patient be experiencing if they show signs of perspiration, difficulty focusing, and anxiety?

1. Hyperglycemia

2. Hypoglycemia

3. Diabetic ketoacidosis

4. Insulin resistance

The correct answer is: Hypoglycemia

The signs of perspiration, difficulty focusing, and anxiety are indicative of hypoglycemia, which is a condition characterized by abnormally low blood sugar levels. In diabetic patients, hypoglycemia can occur as a result of taking too much insulin, skipping meals, or engaging in excessive physical activity without proper adjustments to their medication or food intake. Hypoglycemia can lead to a range of symptoms as the body reacts to low glucose levels. The sympathetic nervous system is activated, causing symptoms like sweating and increased heart rate. Additionally, low glucose levels can impair cognitive functions, leading to difficulty concentrating or focusing. The anxiety that the patient experiences can also be attributed to the body's stress response when it senses that it is not receiving enough glucose for energy. Understanding these symptoms is critical for diabetic patients and caregivers, as swift identification and treatment of hypoglycemia, often through the ingestion of fast-acting carbohydrates, can prevent more severe complications. Other conditions such as hyperglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis present with different symptoms and are not typically associated with the acute presentation of perspiration, anxiety, and difficulty focusing as seen in hypoglycemia.