Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus – Recognition & Basics MCQ Quiz | Endocrinology

Welcome to this multiple-choice quiz on the recognition and basic principles of Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM), designed for MBBS students. This quiz covers essential topics in Endocrinology, including pathophysiology, clinical presentation, diagnostic criteria, and the immunological basis of T1DM. There are 25 questions to test your understanding of this critical autoimmune condition. After submitting your answers, you will see your score, and each question will be marked to show the correct and incorrect choices. To aid your revision, you can download a PDF document containing all the questions along with their correct answers. This tool is intended to reinforce your learning and help you prepare for your examinations. Good luck!

1. What is the primary pathophysiological process underlying Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus (T1DM)?

2. Which Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) haplotypes are most strongly associated with an increased genetic susceptibility to T1DM?

3. A young patient presents with rapid onset of polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia. What is this classic triad of symptoms indicative of?

4. A 14-year-old presents to the emergency department with Kussmaul breathing, abdominal pain, and a fruity odor on their breath. These signs are highly suggestive of which acute complication?

5. According to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), which HbA1c level is a diagnostic criterion for diabetes mellitus?

6. Which autoantibody is most commonly detected at the time of diagnosis in adults with new-onset T1DM?

7. The “honeymoon period” in a newly diagnosed T1DM patient is characterized by:

8. Which of the following features most reliably distinguishes T1DM from Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus (T2DM) at the time of initial diagnosis?

9. A 42-year-old non-obese male is diagnosed with diabetes. Initially managed with oral agents, he requires insulin within a year. He tests positive for GAD65 antibodies. What is the most appropriate classification for his diabetes?

10. What is the fundamental and life-saving treatment for all individuals with T1DM?

11. A measurement of C-peptide levels in a patient with diabetes is used to assess:

12. The incidence of T1DM typically shows a bimodal age distribution. These two peaks of onset are generally observed around which age groups?

13. While the exact trigger is unknown, which of the following is a strongly proposed environmental factor for initiating the autoimmune process in genetically susceptible individuals for T1DM?

14. A symptomatic patient presents with a random plasma glucose level of 250 mg/dL (13.9 mmol/L). What is the most appropriate next step for diagnosis?

15. The characteristic “fruity” odor on the breath of a patient in Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) is caused by the exhalation of which ketone body?

16. What is the typical change in body weight observed during the initial, untreated presentation of T1DM?

17. Histological examination of the pancreas in a patient with long-standing T1DM would most likely reveal which finding in the islets of Langerhans?

18. A fasting plasma glucose (FPG) level of ≥ 126 mg/dL (7.0 mmol/L) on two separate occasions is diagnostic of diabetes. What does ‘fasting’ typically mean in this context?

19. The autoantibody targeting the Zinc Transporter 8 (ZnT8) is directed against a protein located in the:

20. The polyuria observed in untreated T1DM is a direct consequence of which physiological mechanism?

21. Polydipsia in untreated T1DM is primarily stimulated by:

22. How is T1DM fundamentally different from Maturity Onset Diabetes of the Young (MODY)?

23. In a 75g Oral Glucose Tolerance Test (OGTT), what 2-hour plasma glucose value is diagnostic of diabetes mellitus?

24. Insulin autoantibodies (IAA) are most characteristically and frequently found in which group of T1DM patients?

25. Islet cell antibodies (ICA) are detected using immunofluorescence and are directed against: