Free Endocrine and Diabetes Drugs MCQs with Answers

50 Endocrine and Diabetes Drugs MCQs from Nursing Pharmacology, each with the correct answer and a written explanation of why it is correct. Free and unlimited, with no account needed.

Endocrine pharmacology includes insulin preparations, oral antidiabetic drugs, thyroid and antithyroid medicines, corticosteroids, sex hormones and drugs affecting calcium balance. Questions address onset and duration, administration, monitoring, hypoglycaemia, steroid adverse effects and the difference between replacing a deficient hormone and suppressing excessive hormone activity.

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50 questions · page 2 of 3

  • A. Insulin regular
  • B. Insulin NPH
  • C. Insulin lispro
  • D. Insulin detemir

Explanation: Insulin detemir is a long-acting basal insulin with a relatively steady action and little or no pronounced peak.

Correct answer: Insulin detemir
Moderate
  • A. Whether the patient has eaten the planned meal
  • B. Whether the patient has passed urine recently
  • C. Whether the patient has taken calcium tablets
  • D. Whether the patient has used sunscreen today

Explanation: Regular insulin can lower blood glucose during the meal period, so the nurse should confirm that food is available and the patient can…

Correct answer: Whether the patient has eaten the planned meal
Moderate
  • A. Genital or urinary tract infection
  • B. Severe bradycardia after meals
  • C. Black discoloration of the tongue
  • D. Permanent hearing loss

Explanation: Empagliflozin increases urinary glucose excretion, which can promote genital fungal infections and urinary tract infections.

Correct answer: Genital or urinary tract infection
  • A. It delays intestinal carbohydrate digestion
  • B. It stimulates insulin release during fasting
  • C. It replaces the body's missing thyroid hormone
  • D. It prevents glucose formation in the liver

Explanation: Acarbose inhibits intestinal alpha-glucosidase enzymes and slows carbohydrate breakdown, reducing the rise in blood glucose after meals.

Correct answer: It delays intestinal carbohydrate digestion
  • A. Tachycardia and tremors
  • B. Thyroid hormone production
  • C. Thyroid gland enlargement
  • D. Low serum calcium levels

Explanation: Propranolol reduces adrenergic symptoms of hyperthyroidism, especially tachycardia, palpitations and tremors.

Correct answer: Tachycardia and tremors
Hard
  • A. I will report yellowing of my skin or eyes
  • B. I will stop the medicine when my pulse improves
  • C. I will attend scheduled thyroid blood tests
  • D. I will report unusual bruising or bleeding

Explanation: Propylthiouracil should not be stopped simply because symptoms improve, unless the prescriber gives that instruction.

Correct answer: I will stop the medicine when my pulse improves
  • A. Administer it immediately after breakfast
  • B. Check the prescription with the prescriber
  • C. Give an extra corticosteroid dose first
  • D. Replace it with an insulin injection

Explanation: Long-term or high-dose corticosteroid therapy can suppress immunity, making live vaccines unsafe or less effective.

Correct answer: Check the prescription with the prescriber
  • A. Rinse the mouth after each use
  • B. Drink grapefruit juice after each dose
  • C. Take the inhaler only when fever occurs
  • D. Lie flat for thirty minutes after use

Explanation: Rinsing and spitting after inhaled corticosteroid use helps reduce local effects such as oral candidiasis and hoarseness.

Correct answer: Rinse the mouth after each use
Moderate
  • A. Massage the affected calf gently
  • B. Encourage vigorous walking
  • C. Report the finding promptly
  • D. Apply a tight elastic bandage

Explanation: Unilateral calf swelling and tenderness may indicate deep vein thrombosis, a serious thromboembolic complication associated with oestrogen…

Correct answer: Report the finding promptly
Fairly easy
  • A. Serum calcium
  • B. Serum amylase
  • C. Haemoglobin level
  • D. Prothrombin time

Explanation: Calcitriol increases intestinal absorption of calcium and can cause hypercalcaemia if the dose is excessive.

Correct answer: Serum calcium
  • A. Insulin regular
  • B. Insulin NPH
  • C. Insulin glargine
  • D. Insulin degludec

Explanation: Regular insulin is the standard insulin preparation used intravenously for situations such as diabetic ketoacidosis.

Correct answer: Insulin regular
  • A. Serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate
  • B. Serum amylase and lipase levels
  • C. Total bilirubin and alkaline phosphatase
  • D. Haemoglobin and platelet count

Explanation: Metformin is cleared mainly by the kidneys, so renal function must be assessed before and during treatment.

Correct answer: Serum creatinine and estimated glomerular filtration rate
  • A. Notify the provider urgently and prepare for ketone testing
  • B. Give the next dose with food to prevent gastric irritation
  • C. Reassure the patient because the glucose level is not elevated
  • D. Give a rapid-acting carbohydrate and recheck glucose later

Explanation: SGLT2 inhibitors can rarely cause diabetic ketoacidosis with only a mildly raised or near-normal glucose level.

Correct answer: Notify the provider urgently and prepare for ketone testing
Very hard
  • A. It reduces thyroid hormone synthesis and peripheral conversion of thyroxine
  • B. It replaces deficient thyroid hormone and raises the metabolic rate
  • C. It destroys thyroid tissue by delivering radioactive iodine
  • D. It blocks calcium absorption and lowers the serum calcium level

Explanation: Propylthiouracil inhibits thyroid hormone synthesis and also reduces peripheral conversion of thyroxine to triiodothyronine.

Correct answer: It reduces thyroid hormone synthesis and peripheral conversion of thyroxine
Moderate
  • A. The dose may be excessive and needs clinical review
  • B. The medicine is not being absorbed and needs doubling
  • C. The patient is developing an allergic reaction to iodine
  • D. The symptoms show that hypothyroidism is worsening

Explanation: Palpitations, heat intolerance and weight loss suggest excessive thyroid hormone replacement or thyrotoxicosis.

Correct answer: The dose may be excessive and needs clinical review
Moderate
  • A. Follow the prescribed sick-day plan and contact the provider
  • B. Stop hydrocortisone until the fever has completely settled
  • C. Take the usual dose only and avoid reporting the illness
  • D. Replace hydrocortisone with levothyroxine during the fever

Explanation: Fever increases the body's need for cortisol, so a patient with adrenal insufficiency may require prescribed stress dosing and prompt…

Correct answer: Follow the prescribed sick-day plan and contact the provider
  • A. Osteoporosis and increased fracture risk
  • B. Permanent protection from bacterial infection
  • C. Markedly increased insulin sensitivity
  • D. Rapid healing of gastric ulcers

Explanation: Long-term corticosteroids reduce bone formation and increase bone loss, leading to osteoporosis and fractures.

Correct answer: Osteoporosis and increased fracture risk
  • A. Headache, confusion and a falling serum sodium level
  • B. Mild thirst with clear urine during the first treatment day
  • C. A pulse rate of 78 beats per minute while resting
  • D. A serum potassium level within the reference range

Explanation: Desmopressin reduces excessive urine loss, but excessive water retention can cause dilutional hyponatraemia.

Correct answer: Headache, confusion and a falling serum sodium level
Moderate
  • A. It inhibits osteoclast activity and lowers release of calcium from bone
  • B. It increases intestinal calcium absorption and raises serum calcium
  • C. It replaces parathyroid hormone and increases bone breakdown
  • D. It prevents renal excretion of calcium and retains it in blood

Explanation: Calcitonin lowers serum calcium mainly by inhibiting osteoclast-mediated bone resorption and increasing renal calcium excretion.

Correct answer: It inhibits osteoclast activity and lowers release of calcium from bone
Moderate
  • A. Reduced oestrogen can accelerate bone loss and increase fracture risk
  • B. Increased oestrogen causes excessive calcium deposition in the arteries
  • C. The medicine directly blocks calcium absorption in the intestine
  • D. The medicine commonly causes parathyroid hormone deficiency

Explanation: Aromatase inhibitors reduce oestrogen production, and low oestrogen promotes bone resorption.

Correct answer: Reduced oestrogen can accelerate bone loss and increase fracture risk