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Free CDCES Practice Questions

10 free, exam-style Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) practice questions with answers and explanations. No signup required. Work through them below, then take the full free CDCES practice test to study every exam domain.

Question 1

A 38-year-old presents with polyuria, polydipsia, weight loss, and a random glucose of 312 mg/dL. Which laboratory test BEST distinguishes Type 1 from Type 2 diabetes?

  1. Hemoglobin A1C reflecting prior 90-day average
  2. Fasting plasma glucose drawn after overnight fast
  3. GAD65 autoantibody panel with C-peptide level
  4. Comprehensive metabolic panel with renal function
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - GAD65 autoantibody panel with C-peptide level

Question 2

A 16-year-old with T1D has hemoglobin A1C of 11.4% and reports skipping insulin to lose weight. This presentation MOST suggests:

  1. Type 1 diabetes with disordered eating (T1DE)
  2. Adolescent rebellion against parental medication control
  3. Subclinical hyperthyroid state causing the weight loss
  4. Normal puberty-related insulin resistance changes
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Type 1 diabetes with disordered eating (T1DE)

Question 3

A patient with T1D presents with abdominal pain and glucose 320 mg/dL. Per the 2024 ADA/EASD DKA criteria, which test result confirms ketosis?

  1. Glucose ≥600 mg/dL regardless of any ketone or laboratory finding today
  2. β-OHB ≥3.0 mmol/L as the primary ketosis criterion overall for this person
  3. Urine ketone trace value regardless of any other laboratory finding today
  4. Anion gap ≥12 regardless of any β-OHB value as the only criterion today
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - β-OHB ≥3.0 mmol/L as the primary ketosis criterion overall for this person

Question 4

A patient on SGLT2 inhibitor reports nausea and abdominal pain with glucose 165 mg/dL. The MOST important monitoring step is to:

  1. Have the patient drink fruit juice immediately to address symptoms
  2. Recheck the glucose using a different home meter at the same time
  3. Check blood ketones to evaluate for euglycemic DKA presentation
  4. Reassure the patient that euglycemia rules out DKA in all situations
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Check blood ketones to evaluate for euglycemic DKA presentation

Question 5

Per perioperative recommendations (ASA June 2023), weekly GLP-1 receptor agonists should be:

  1. Doubled in dose immediately before any elective surgical procedure today
  2. Started for the first time on the morning of the surgical procedure today
  3. Continued at full dose throughout the perioperative period without any change
  4. Held for at least 1 week before elective surgery to reduce aspiration risk
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - Held for at least 1 week before elective surgery to reduce aspiration risk

Question 6

A T1D patient's pump alarm shows occlusion and they cannot resume infusion within an hour. To prevent ketoacidosis, the patient should:

  1. Resume basal insulin via injection within 2-4 hours to prevent ketosis
  2. Wait at least 48 hours before resuming any insulin therapy of any kind today
  3. Reduce all insulin doses to zero until a new pump is delivered to the home
  4. Increase oral medications to compensate for the lost insulin during pump failure
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - Resume basal insulin via injection within 2-4 hours to prevent ketosis

Question 7

A patient on acarbose with hypoglycemia must use which type of carbohydrate?

  1. Table sugar (sucrose) which works the same as glucose tablets in any patient
  2. Complex starches such as bread or pasta in large quantities at any time today
  3. Pure glucose (dextrose tablets, gel) rather than table sugar (sucrose)
  4. Protein and fat snacks such as cheese to slowly raise glucose levels today
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: C - Pure glucose (dextrose tablets, gel) rather than table sugar (sucrose)

Question 8

Per ADA 2026, the preconception A1C target for women with diabetes is:

  1. <5.0% as a strict target for any woman regardless of any clinical features today always
  2. <10.0% as a relaxed target during preconception care planning at any visit today always
  3. <8.0% as the standard nonpregnant target without any further refinement today always
  4. <6.5% if achievable without significant hypoglycemia for safer conception
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: D - <6.5% if achievable without significant hypoglycemia for safer conception

Question 9

Which term should generally be AVOIDED in person-centered diabetes care?

  1. Diabetes care and education specialist as the title of the educator today
  2. Compliance which suggests passive obedience to clinical instructions
  3. Adherence which suggests collaborative engagement with the care plan
  4. Self-management which suggests active patient agency and engagement
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: B - Compliance which suggests passive obedience to clinical instructions

Question 10

When a patient asks the CDCES to adjust insulin doses, the appropriate response depends on:

  1. The CDCES's professional license, training, scope, and any practice protocols in place
  2. The patient's insurance plan alone without any consideration of any other factor today
  3. The employer's preferences alone without any consideration of any other factor today
  4. The patient's request alone without any consideration of license or training today always
Show answer & explanation

Correct answer: A - The CDCES's professional license, training, scope, and any practice protocols in place

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