In every issue of Diabetes Self-Management magazine, we test your knowledge on a diabetes-related topic. Here's a quiz question from the January/February 2012 issue.

How much do you know about ketones?

Most people with diabetes — and anyone who has read about low-carbohydrate diets — has probably heard of ketones, but how many people really know what they are? Messages about ketones can be confusing: Some sources say they are toxic and dangerous, while others suggest that ketones are a positive sign of weight loss through fat burning. When you have diabetes, it’s important to know the facts about ketones, as well as when to check for them, how to check for them, and what to do if you detect them. Try your hand at this question to see how much you know about ketones.

Studies have found that elevated ketones during pregnancy are associated with reduced intelligence in the baby.
TRUE or FALSE?

TRUE. Although the research is somewhat controversial, at least two studies have shown a link between elevated ketones in the mother and lower IQ and learning disabilities in the offspring. It’s believed that the presence of ketones may affect the development of brain cells in the growing fetus. While some authorities argue that other issues related to poor diabetes control may be more to blame than elevated ketones, most gynecologists advocate regular ketone testing as part of prenatal care.

In every issue of Diabetes Self-Management magazine, we test your knowledge on a diabetes-related topic. Here's a quiz question from the November/December 2011 issue.

How much do you know about skin care?

The skin is the body’s biggest organ, but when people with diabetes think about the complications they might face, skin problems don’t always come to mind. In fact, high blood glucose and the complications it can lead to are associated with a number of skin problems, some of which can become serious if not attended to promptly. The good news is that keeping blood glucose levels in target range and following a thorough self-care regimen can prevent many skin conditions, help you to identify others early, when they’re most easily treated, and keep you looking and feeling your best.

Ulcers on the feet always lead to amputation.
TRUE or FALSE?

FALSE. Losing a foot or leg is a common fear among people with diabetes. It’s true that untreated ulcers can lead to infection, which in turn can make amputation necessary, but that’s not the only possible outcome. Wearing comfortable and supportive shoes and socks, inspecting your feet daily for any sores, rashes, or blisters, and treating any problems early, before they become more serious, can prevent ulcers from forming. If an ulcer forms, topical medicines, special dressings and wraps, and even oxygen chambers can be employed to help an ulcer to heal and leave the foot intact. Wound-care centers are your best option for this type of care. They are usually staffed by dermatologists, podiatrists, surgeons, or other medical personnel with special training.

In every issue of Diabetes Self-Management magazine, we test your knowledge on a diabetes-related topic. Here's a quiz question from the September/October 2011 issue.

How much do you know about prediabetes?

Prediabetes is a condition in which blood glucose levels are elevated, but not high enough to be classified as diabetes. However, like diabetes, prediabetes increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and possibly other complication of diabetes. Often, people with prediabetes go on to develop Type 2 diabetes. Rates of both Type 2 diabetes and prediabetes are on the rise, but fortunately, the news is not all bad: There are plenty of ways for a person to dramatically lower his risk of developing prediabetes and to treat it if he already has the condition. How much do you know about prediabetes?

It is possible to have prediabetes and not know it.
TRUE or FALSE?

TRUE. People with prediabetes—or even Type 2 diabetes—may not notice any symptoms. That’s because symptoms such as unusual thirst, frequent urination, blurred vision, and fatigue can develop so gradually that they go unrecognized. For that reason, it’s good to be aware of the risk factors for prediabetes and to talk to your doctor about being screened for it if you fall into a high-risk category.

In every issue of Diabetes Self-Management magazine, we test your knowledge on a diabetes-related topic. Here's a quiz question from the July/August 2011 issue.

How much do you know about peripheral arterial disease?

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is a condition in which arteries become narrowed, blocking circulation and potentially causing serious damage. This can happen in abdominal organs such as the intestines and kidneys, the arms, and especially the legs and feet. People with diabetes have a higher risk of developing PAD than people who don’t have diabetes. But the good news is that keeping blood glucose levels as close to the normal range as possible and maintaining a healthy lifestyle can do a lot to prevent it—and to improve your cardiovascular health in general. How much do you know about PAD?

If your symptoms of PAD aren’t painful, there’s no need to get them checked out by a doctor.
TRUE or FALSE?

FALSE. Symptoms such as changes in the color or temperature of the feet and legs may seem more like an inconvenience than a cause for concern, but often by the time a person notices them, PAD has progressed considerably. The initial stages of PAD are usually not associated with any symptoms at all. However, even in the absence of painful symptoms, PAD can be diagnosed and treated. It is important that people with diabetes have their feet examined at every office visit to detect any small abnormalities that could lead to severe disease if left untreated. Several studies have shown that regular foot checkups significantly prevent amputations in people with diabetes.

In every issue of Diabetes Self-Management magazine, we test your knowledge on a diabetes-related topic. Here's a quiz question from the March/April 2011 issue.

How much do you know about oral health?

We all know that maintaining good oral health helps to keep your teeth and gums healthy, but did you know that it’s also good for your diabetes care? Any infection, including those in the mouth, can raise your blood glucose level. High blood glucose, in turn, can raise the risk of infections developing in the mouth. So good oral health care and good diabetes care go hand in hand. Luckily, there are many ways to keep your mouth healthy, starting with plain old brushing and flossing, and including finding an oral health care provider who provides good care and takes your diabetes and any other special needs into account. Take this quiz to find out how much you know about oral health and oral health care.

If you’re nervous about going to the dentist, there’s nothing you can do to lower your anxiety beforehand or make the actual appointment more comfortable.
TRUE or FALSE?

FALSE. There are many ways to lower your anxiety before a dentist appointment that address both physical and emotional needs. Visiting your dentist’s office a few times before getting a cleaning or procedure done can be helpful. Relaxation techniques such as deep breathing can be done both at the dentist’s office and at home; though prescription drugs to treat anxiety are available, they aren’t the only option. Sensitive teeth can be treated in the office with topical desensitizers by the dental hygienist before professional cleanings. Speak to your oral health care provider about ways to alleviate your anxiety or accommodate any special needs.

In every issue of Diabetes Self-Management magazine, we test your knowledge on a diabetes-related topic. Here's a quiz question from the January/February 2011 issue.

How much do you know about caffeine?

The buzz on caffeine seems to change from one day to the next: Some days it’s good for us, and other days we should avoid it like the plague. Caffeine is often called the world’s most commonly used drug, with 80% of the population consuming some form of it on a daily basis. Found in coffee, tea, many carbonated soft drinks, many energy drinks, and chocolate, caffeine can be hard to avoid. But do we really need to avoid it? See what you know about the health benefits — or drawbacks — of caffeine by taking the following quiz.

Caffeine can help with weight loss.
TRUE or FALSE?

TRUE. However, most of the studies that have looked at the effect of caffeine on weight loss have been short-term studies. Caffeine may boost metabolism, or the rate at which you burn calories, and may possibly act to suppress your appetite. But before you jump on the caffeine-diet bandwagon, keep in mind that you’d have to drink a lot of coffee (or tea or diet cola) to benefit. There’s no guarantee that you’ll lose weight. And considering the possible side effects of too much caffeine, it’s probably best to stick with more tried-and-true approaches to weight loss, such as portion control and regular physical activity.

In every issue of Diabetes Self-Management magazine, we test your knowledge on a diabetes-related topic. Here's a quiz question from the November/December 2010 issue.

How much do you know about MRSA?

If you’ve ever heard of MRSA (short for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus), you know it’s something you don’t want. MRSA (usually pronounced MUR-suh) is a staph bacteria that’s resistant to certain antibiotics. Most MRSA infections are skin infections, and while most are benign, some can be serious and even life-threatening. Would you recognize MRSA if you saw it? What are the symptoms? The risk factors? The treatments? How can you protect yourself and others from getting it?

Although health care-associated MRSA is on the decline, the largest percentage of cases of MRSA are still acquired at health-care facilities rather than in the community.
TRUE or FALSE?

TRUE. The good news is that according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), invasive MRSA — the more serious form that can infect the bloodstream, lungs, bones, and other organs — is on the decline. From 2005 to 2008, in nine US metropolitan areas, there was a 28% decline in hospital-onset invasive MRSA infections and a 17% decline in health care–associated community-onset invasive MRSA infections. In this study, “hospital-onset” meant the person had tested positive for infection on or after his fourth day in the hospital. Those considered to have “health care–associated community-onset” MRSA tested positive as an outpatient or on or before their third day in the hospital and had recent exposure to health care. If MRSA was isolated from an outpatient or from an inpatient three or fewer calendar days after an admission but no recent health-care exposure was documented, the case was considered “community-associated” and was not included in the analysis. The bad news, from a study focusing on children and running from 1999 to 2008, is that MRSA infections increased from 2 to 21 cases per 1,000 hospital admissions, with most being community-acquired MRSA infections. This study pooled data from 25 US children’s hospitals.

In every issue of Diabetes Self-Management magazine, we test your knowledge on a diabetes-related topic. Here's a quiz question from the September/October 2010 issue.

How much do you know about vitamin B12?

Vitamin B12, one of the eight B vitamins, is vital to the healthy function of every cell in the body. Insufficient vitamin B12 intake — or insufficient absorption in the gastrointestinal system — can cause a wide range of health problems. In addition, some of these can be confused with complications relating to diabetes, so it’s important to know the possible causes, signs, and symptoms of deficiency. How much do you know about vitamin B12?

It is possible to have a vitamin B12 serum (blood) measurement in the low-normal range but still have a B12 deficiency that requires treatment.
TRUE or FALSE?

TRUE. Though a serum vitamin B12 test is the laboratory gold standard for diagnosing vitamin B12 deficiency, it still requires interpretation. The amount of B12 in the blood does not necessarily reflect intracellular or tissue concentrations. The reason for this is related to the failure of a process called biotransformation, in which the form of vitamin B12 found in the blood is biologically converted to the active form. Additional tests may be necessary to confirm suspected vitamin B12 deficiency in people without severe symptoms who have low-normal serum levels. Two other tests, for serum homocysteine and serum methylmalonic acid (MMA), can help confirm a diagnosis. The presence of these two chemicals in the blood is indicative of problems with biotransformation. The MMA test is more sensitive and predictive of vitamin B12 status than the homocysteine test. Another cause of a low-normal serum level of vitamin B12 in cases of deficiency is taking high or relatively high doses of folic acid, which can mask vitamin B12 deficiency.

In every issue of Diabetes Self-Management magazine, we test your knowledge on a diabetes-related topic. Here's a quiz question from the July/August 2010 issue.

How much do you know about metformin?

Metformin is a drug commonly used in the treatment of Type 2 diabetes. It is sold as a generic and under several brand names, including Glucophage, Glumetza, Riomet, and Fortamet. Both the American Diabetes Association (ADA) and the American Association of Clinical Endocrinologists (AACE) recommend metformin as a cornerstone of therapy for Type 2 diabetes when exercise and dietary changes aren’t enough to keep blood glucose levels in target range. The low cost of the generic forms along with a long history of use make it a good choice for many individuals with Type 2 diabetes.

Although metformin has helped many people lower their blood glucose levels, it does have some potential side effects that are worth knowing about. Understanding the risks and benefits of metformin is key to using it successfully. Take this quiz to test your knowledge of this popular diabetes medicine.

Metformin has a very low risk of causing hypoglycemia (low blood glucose).
TRUE or FALSE?

TRUE. Metformin does not stimulate the production of insulin from the pancreas, so it is unlikely to cause hypoglycemia—at least when taken alone. If you take metformin with other diabetes drugs, however, your risk of developing hypoglycemia is higher. (Metformin can be taken with most other diabetes drugs.) Combination pills, which contain metformin along with other diabetes drugs, are more likely to cause hypoglycemia than metformin taken alone, with no other blood-glucose-lowering medicines.