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metformin

Practice targeted AMC-style multiple-choice questions on metformin.

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A 52-year-old woman with a 10-year history of type 2 diabetes mellitus presents to your clinic for a routine follow-up. She has been experiencing difficulty in controlling her blood glucose levels despite being on metformin and glipizide. Her HbA1c is 8.5%. She has a BMI of 32 kg/m² and a sedentary lifestyle. She reports consuming a diet high in processed foods and sugary beverages. Her blood pressure is 140/85 mmHg, and her lipid profile shows elevated LDL cholesterol. Which of the following dietary and lifestyle modifications is most likely to improve her glycemic control and overall cardiovascular risk profile?

A. Switching to a vegetarian diet and incorporating yoga
B. Adopting a Mediterranean diet and engaging in regular aerobic exercise
C. Reducing sodium intake and focusing on high-intensity interval training
D. Increasing protein intake and starting resistance training
E. Following a low-carbohydrate, high-fat diet and practicing intermittent fasting
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A 62-year-old man with a history of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus presents to the emergency department complaining of palpitations and lightheadedness. He reports that the symptoms started suddenly about an hour ago. He denies any chest pain, shortness of breath, or syncope. His medications include metformin and lisinopril. On examination, he is alert and oriented. His blood pressure is 110/70 mmHg, heart rate is irregularly irregular at 140 bpm, respiratory rate is 18 breaths per minute, and oxygen saturation is 97% on room air. An ECG is performed, which shows an absence of P waves, irregularly irregular R-R intervals, and narrow QRS complexes. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in the management of this patient?

A. Synchronized cardioversion
B. Vagal maneuvers
C. Administration of intravenous magnesium sulfate
D. Intravenous amiodarone
E. Rate control with intravenous diltiazem
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A 72-year-old man with a history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) presents to his general practitioner for a routine check-up. His current medications include metformin, insulin glargine, amlodipine, and aspirin. His blood pressure today is 150/90 mmHg. Laboratory results show a serum creatinine of 2.5 mg/dL (baseline 2.0 mg/dL), potassium of 5.4 mEq/L, and a urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) of 350 mg/g. The GP decides to add an ACE inhibitor to his medication regimen to help manage his blood pressure and proteinuria. One week later, the patient returns complaining of fatigue and muscle weakness. Repeat laboratory testing reveals a serum creatinine of 3.1 mg/dL and a potassium of 6.2 mEq/L. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in managing this patient?

A. Discontinue the ACE inhibitor and administer calcium gluconate
B. Add a potassium-sparing diuretic to counteract the hyperkalemia
C. Continue the ACE inhibitor and add a loop diuretic
D. Prescribe a potassium-binding resin and continue the ACE inhibitor
E. Reduce the dose of the ACE inhibitor by 50% and monitor renal function closely
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A 65-year-old male with a history of hypertension and type 2 diabetes presents with stable angina. He is currently on metformin, atorvastatin, and lisinopril. Which of the following medications is most appropriate to add to his regimen to reduce angina symptoms?

A. Diuretic (e.g., hydrochlorothiazide)
B. Beta-blocker (e.g., metoprolol)
C. Angiotensin II receptor blocker (e.g., losartan)
D. Calcium channel blocker (e.g., amlodipine)
E. Nitrate (e.g., isosorbide mononitrate)
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A 62-year-old Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander man presents for a routine check-up. He has a history of smoking, obesity, and type 2 diabetes, managed with metformin. His blood pressure is 150/90 mmHg. Which of the following is the MOST significant modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease in this patient?

A. Type 2 diabetes
B. Smoking
C. Obesity
D. Indigenous status
E. Hypertension
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A patient is on metformin 1g BD, with a blood pressure of 135/85 mmHg, HbA1c of 8.5%, no history of cardiovascular disease, fasting blood sugar of 9 mmol/L, and an albumin/creatinine ratio of 500. Which drug should be added to their treatment regimen?

A. Pioglitazone
B. Ramipril
C. Sitagliptin
D. Gliclazide
E. Insulin
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A 72-year-old man with a history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) presents to his general practitioner for a routine check-up. His current medications include metformin, insulin, amlodipine, and aspirin. His blood pressure today is 150/90 mmHg. Laboratory results show a serum creatinine of 2.5 mg/dL (221 micromol/L) and a potassium level of 5.4 mEq/L. The GP decides to add an ACE inhibitor to his treatment regimen to help manage his blood pressure and provide renal protection. One week later, the patient returns complaining of fatigue and muscle weakness. Repeat laboratory tests reveal a serum creatinine of 3.1 mg/dL (274 micromol/L) and a potassium level of 6.2 mEq/L. Which of the following is the most appropriate next step in managing this patient?

A. Add a potassium-binding resin (e.g., sodium polystyrene sulfonate) and continue the ACE inhibitor.
B. Prescribe a loop diuretic to counteract the hyperkalemia and continue the ACE inhibitor.
C. Refer the patient to a nephrologist for urgent dialysis.
D. Reduce the dose of the ACE inhibitor by 50% and recheck renal function and potassium levels in one week.
E. Discontinue the ACE inhibitor and monitor renal function and potassium levels.
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A 70-year-old man with a history of hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus is being treated with an ACE inhibitor. His medications include metformin, gliclazide and perindopril. He presents to the emergency department complaining of lightheadedness and dizziness, particularly when standing up. His blood pressure is 90/60 mmHg, and his heart rate is 70 bpm. His electrolytes show a potassium level of 6.2 mmol/L. Which of the following is the most likely cause of his hyperkalemia?

A. Adrenal insufficiency
B. Gliclazide
C. Perindopril
D. Dehydration
E. Metformin
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A 62-year-old woman presents to the emergency department with confusion and lethargy. Her family reports she has been increasingly forgetful over the past week and has had a decreased appetite. She has a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus and hypertension, for which she takes metformin and lisinopril. On examination, she is disoriented to time and place, with dry mucous membranes and decreased skin turgor. Her blood pressure is 100/60 mmHg, heart rate is 110 bpm, and temperature is 37.2°C. Laboratory tests reveal a serum sodium level of 118 mmol/L, serum osmolality of 260 mOsm/kg, and urine osmolality of 500 mOsm/kg. Which of the following is the most appropriate initial management for this patient?

A. Furosemide administration
B. Normal saline infusion
C. Hypertonic saline infusion
D. Fluid restriction
E. Demeclocycline administration
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A 55-year-old man with a history of type 2 diabetes presents for a routine check-up. His last HbA1c level, measured three months ago, was 8.2%. He reports no new symptoms and is currently on metformin. What is the most appropriate next step in managing his diabetes?

A. Start insulin therapy
B. Add a sulfonylurea
C. Increase the dose of metformin
D. Order a fasting blood glucose test
E. Refer to a diabetes educator
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A 68-year-old man with a history of hypertension, type 2 diabetes, and stable angina is scheduled for elective hernia repair surgery. He is currently on aspirin, metformin, lisinopril, and atorvastatin. His last angina episode was over a year ago, and he has no history of myocardial infarction. What is the most appropriate preoperative management step to minimize his cardiovascular risk during surgery?

A. Discontinue aspirin therapy one week before surgery
B. Increase the dose of atorvastatin
C. Continue aspirin therapy
D. Order a preoperative stress test
E. Start beta-blocker therapy
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A 55-year-old man with a history of type 2 diabetes mellitus presents with polyuria, polydipsia, and fatigue. His blood tests reveal a fasting blood glucose level of 15 mmol/L and HbA1c of 9.5%. He is currently on metformin. What is the most appropriate next step in management?

A. Increase the dose of metformin
B. Switch to insulin therapy
C. Add a DPP-4 inhibitor
D. Add a sulfonylurea
E. Start lifestyle modifications
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A 62-year-old man with a history of poorly controlled hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus presents to his general practitioner for a routine check-up. His current medications include metformin, gliclazide, and amlodipine. His blood pressure today is 160/95 mmHg. His creatinine is 140 umol/L (previously 110 umol/L). His electrolytes are normal. The GP decides to add an ACE inhibitor to his regimen. Which of the following investigations is MOST important to repeat within 1-2 weeks of commencing the ACE inhibitor?

A. Full blood count
B. Fasting blood glucose
C. Serum creatinine and electrolytes
D. Urine albumin creatinine ratio
E. Liver function tests
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A 55-year-old man with type 2 diabetes mellitus presents for a routine follow-up. His HbA1c is 9.0% despite being on metformin 1000 mg twice daily. He has a BMI of 32 kg/m² and no history of cardiovascular disease. What is the most appropriate next step in his management?

A. Add a DPP-4 inhibitor
B. Increase the dose of metformin
C. Add a GLP-1 receptor agonist
D. Start basal insulin therapy
E. Add a sulfonylurea
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A 35-year-old Aboriginal woman presents for a routine health check. She reports feeling tired lately and sometimes short of breath on exertion. She has a history of type 2 diabetes diagnosed 5 years ago, managed with metformin 500mg twice daily, and untreated hypertension. On examination, her blood pressure is 145/90 mmHg. Urinalysis shows 2+ protein. Blood tests reveal creatinine 180 µmol/L, eGFR 35 mL/min/1.73m², HbA1c 8.5%, potassium 4.2 mmol/L. Given these findings, which of the following is the most appropriate initial management step?

A. Increase the dose of metformin.
B. Prescribe a loop diuretic for fluid overload.
C. Advise dietary protein restriction only.
D. Initiate an ACE inhibitor or ARB and optimise blood pressure control.
E. Refer immediately for renal biopsy.
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A 58-year-old man with a 10-year history of Type 2 diabetes presents to the clinic for a routine follow-up. He is currently on metformin and lifestyle modifications, but his HbA1c has increased to 8.5% over the past six months. He reports adherence to his medication and diet but has a sedentary lifestyle. What is the most appropriate next step in managing his diabetes?

A. Refer for bariatric surgery
B. Add a GLP-1 receptor agonist
C. Add a sulfonylurea
D. Increase the dose of metformin
E. Start basal insulin therapy
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Giant hiatal hernia, CT image. 63 year old man.
Image by Jmarchn CC BY 4.0 · Source

A 63-year-old man presents to the emergency department complaining of increasing shortness of breath and epigastric discomfort over the past several months. He reports feeling full quickly after eating only small amounts. He denies any chest pain, fever, or recent weight loss. His past medical history includes hypertension and well-controlled type 2 diabetes. He takes lisinopril and metformin daily. On examination, his vital signs are stable: blood pressure 130/80 mmHg, heart rate 82 bpm, respiratory rate 18 breaths/min, and oxygen saturation 96% on room air. Auscultation of the chest reveals decreased breath sounds at the left base. Abdominal examination reveals mild epigastric tenderness to palpation, but no rebound tenderness or guarding. The provided image was obtained. Which of the following is the MOST appropriate next step in management?

A. Initiate a proton pump inhibitor and monitor symptoms
B. Esophageal manometry
C. Endoscopic surveillance every 3 years
D. Surgical repair
E. Barium swallow study
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