Certified Dietary Manager (CDM) Practice Exam

Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of diabetes mellitus?

1. Defects in insulin production

2. Insulin resistance

3. Increased cholesterol levels

4. High blood glucose levels

The correct answer is: Increased cholesterol levels

The characteristic that is not typically associated with diabetes mellitus is an increase in cholesterol levels. While individuals with diabetes may exhibit high cholesterol levels, particularly LDL (low-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, this is not a defining feature of diabetes itself. Diabetes mellitus is specifically characterized by problems related to insulin—be it a deficiency in insulin production, like in type 1 diabetes, or the body's resistance to insulin, seen predominantly in type 2 diabetes. High blood glucose levels are a hallmark of diabetes, as the condition is fundamentally associated with the body’s inability to properly regulate blood sugar due to issues with insulin. Defects in insulin production directly relate to the body's inability to manage glucose effectively, while insulin resistance indicates that the body's cells do not respond properly to insulin. These characteristics are central to the pathophysiology of diabetes, demonstrating why the correct answer focuses on cholesterol levels rather than the other options related to insulin dynamics and glucose management.