Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) Practice Exam

A retired professor struggling with blood glucose levels exhibits poor understanding about food and glycemic variability. Which term best describes this issue?

1. Numeracy

2. Literacy

3. Education level

4. Health literacy

The correct answer is: Health literacy

The term "health literacy" is most appropriate in this context as it refers specifically to a person's ability to obtain, process, and understand basic health information and services needed to make informed health decisions. In the case of the retired professor who struggles with blood glucose levels and has a poor understanding of food and glycemic variability, it indicates a gap in their ability to navigate health information pertaining to diabetes management. Health literacy encompasses various skills, including reading and comprehension of health-related materials, understanding nutritional labels, and making informed choices regarding diet that can affect one’s health. Since diabetes management heavily relies on understanding how different foods impact blood sugar levels, having low health literacy can lead to challenges in maintaining optimal glycemic control. This is especially vital for someone managing a chronic condition, as effective self-management depends on a clear understanding of how lifestyle choices, particularly diet, influence health. While numeracy and literacy relate to the mathematical and reading skills respectively, and education level may reflect the broader scope of a person's academic achievements, they do not directly capture the specific understanding and application of health-related information. Thus, health literacy emerges as the most accurate and relevant term to describe the professor's challenges in managing their diabetes effectively.