• 50 questions

Certified Diabetes Educator Exam

A practice test for certified diabetes educator candidates: the CDCES exam, in the shares of its content outline.

A pregnant woman with type 2 diabetes checks her glucose 1 hour after meals. What is the goal?

Pick an answer, then press Check answer. Then you see Correct or Not quite, with the reason. Keys: A to D pick, Enter checks.

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Exam mode: 44 questions, 60 minutes.

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Unofficial practice questions, not affiliated with the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE). Bank checked October 14, 2026.

The real exam, as its certifying board describes it

Questions
175
Time limit
240 minutes
Format
Multiple choice, at a test center or by live remote proctoring, all year
Scoring
A scaled score of 0 to 99; 70 or more passes
Former name
The credential was previously known as Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE)

Checked October 14, 2026 against CBDCE 2026 examination handbook and About the Exam page, cbdce.org. Rules change, so confirm with the agency itself before your test.

CBDCE's own page about the exam

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All 50 questions

Assessment 12

  • A 24-year-old with type 1 diabetes mentions that he uses recreational cannabis most days. Why does this belong in the assessment? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 5, Smoking Cessation: Tobacco, E-cigarettes, and Cannabis, Recommendation 5.41. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), I.B.8 Risk reduction of acute and chronic complications
  • A man on basal-bolus insulin shows a meter reading of 48 mg/dL from last week. He recalls no shakiness, sweating, hunger or confusion at the time. What does this suggest? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 6, Hypoglycemia Assessment. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), I.B.8 Risk reduction of acute and chronic complications
  • A man says, "I know I should look at my feet every day. I plan to start this month, and I bought a mirror for it." Which stage of change is he in? Wikipedia, "Transtheoretical model", Stages of change. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), I.C.2 Readiness to learn and change behavior
Show all 50 questions (47 more)

Assessment, continued

  • A man with type 1 diabetes says he takes less insulin than prescribed so that each vial lasts longer. What is this finding called? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 1, Cost Considerations. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), I.A.3 Social determinants of health
  • A man with type 2 diabetes for 15 years has a pulse of 108 at rest, and his blood pressure falls when he stands. His feet are dry and cracked. What do these findings point to? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 12, Neuropathy, Recommendation 12.19. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), I.A.2 Diabetes-specific physical assessment
  • A woman has a hemoglobin variant that interferes with her laboratory's A1C method. Her A1C is 5.4%, but her fasting plasma glucose is 134 mg/dL and her 2-hour glucose tolerance value is 212 mg/dL. Which data should decide the diagnosis? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 2, A1C, Recommendation 2.4. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), I.A.5 Diabetes measures and other laboratory data
  • A woman reads the numbers in her glucose log aloud without trouble, but she cannot work out a mealtime dose from her insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio. Which should the specialist assess? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 4, Person-Centered Collaborative Care, Recommendation 4.1. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), I.C.4 Literacy, numeracy, health literacy, and digital literacy
  • At an annual foot exam the 10-g monofilament test is done. To check for loss of protective sensation, it is paired with at least one more neurological test. Which one qualifies? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 12, Foot Care, Recommendation 12.24. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), I.A.2 Diabetes-specific physical assessment
  • Before a continuous glucose monitor report is used for pattern management, how much data makes its metrics valid? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 6, Table 6.2, CGM metrics for clinical care. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), I.B.5 Monitoring and data collection
  • During a medication history a man lists cinnamon capsules and chromium that he takes "for my sugar". What should the specialist know? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 5, Nutrition Therapy, Recommendation 5.16. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), I.B.4 Medication practices and preferences (complementary and alternative medicine)
  • When is screening for diabetes distress recommended, and for whom? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 5, Diabetes Distress, Recommendation 5.45. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), I.A.6 Mental health wellbeing
  • Which of these is one of the four critical times to assess a person's need for diabetes self-management education and support? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 5, Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support, Recommendation 5.2. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), I.C.1 Goals and needs of learner

Disease process and approach to treatment 7

  • The 12-year-old sister of a child with type 1 diabetes has two islet autoantibodies, an A1C of 5.9% and no symptoms. Which stage of type 1 diabetes is this? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 2, Table 2.4, Staging of type 1 diabetes. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.A.1 Diagnosis and classifications
  • A lean 34-year-old was told he has type 2 diabetes. Within a year he has lost weight without trying and needs insulin. Which test helps to classify his diabetes? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 2, Classification, Recommendation 2.10. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.A.2 Pathophysiology
  • A man is started on a second-generation antipsychotic. When should he be screened for prediabetes and diabetes? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 2, Screening and Testing, Recommendation 2.16b. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.A.3 Modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors
  • A woman had gestational diabetes. Her 75-g glucose tolerance test 8 weeks after delivery was normal. What follow-up does she need? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 2, Gestational Diabetes Mellitus, Recommendations 2.33 and 2.34. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.A.3 Modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors
  • An 82-year-old with moderate dementia and two falls this year takes glipizide. Her A1C is 6.3%. Which approach fits the Standards? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 6, Glycemic Goals, Recommendations 6.5 and 6.6. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.A.6 Treatment goals
  • An oral glucose tolerance test is ordered to screen a woman for diabetes. What should she be told about the 3 days before the test? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 2, Screening and Testing, Recommendation 2.14. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.A.1 Diagnosis and classifications
  • Six weeks after starting insulin for new type 1 diabetes, a teenager's doses have fallen by more than half and her glucose is steady. What explains this? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 9, Pharmacologic Therapy for Adults With Type 1 Diabetes. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.A.2 Pathophysiology including honeymoon period, dawn phenomenon

Individualized education plan 6

  • A man says he might start checking his glucose, "but it's a hassle". Which reply uses motivational interviewing? Wikipedia, "Motivational interviewing", Overview. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.B.1 Develop plan based on assessment, in collaboration with the person
  • A woman lives 90 minutes from the nearest education program and cannot travel to group classes. Which option do the Standards support? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 5, Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support, Recommendation 5.6. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.B.2 Identify instructional methods
  • After showing a man how to use a pen needle, which line follows the teach-back and show-me methods? AHRQ Health Literacy Universal Precautions Toolkit, Tool 5: Use the Teach-Back Method, Overview and Tips. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.B.2 Identify instructional methods
  • Under the 2022 National Standards, what is each person's education and support plan based on? 2022 National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (Diabetes Spectrum, 2022), Standard 5: Person-Centered DSMES. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.B.1 Develop plan based on assessment, in collaboration with the person
  • Which chart note follows the Standards' guidance on language? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 4, Person-Centered Collaborative Care, language. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.B.1 Develop plan based on assessment, in collaboration with the person
  • Which goal is written in S.M.A.R.T. form? Wikipedia, "SMART criteria", lead section. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.B.3 Set S.M.A.R.T. goals

Education on self-care behaviors 19

  • A man on basal insulin alone has fasting glucose at goal and an A1C of 8.7%. His bedtime readings run 110 mg/dL above his morning readings, and he has lows at night. What should be suspected? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 9, Recommendation 9.26. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.3.d Medication adjustment
  • A man on hemodialysis has an A1C that does not match his meter readings. Which test reflects glycemia over the past 2 to 4 weeks? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 6, Serum Glycated Protein Assays as Alternatives to A1C. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.4.c A1C
  • A man who takes empagliflozin is booked for an elective knee replacement. What does the drug's labeling advise? DailyMed (National Library of Medicine), FDA-approved labeling, Jardiance (empagliflozin) tablets, Dosage and Administration, 2.3. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.3.d Medication adjustment
  • A man with proliferative diabetic retinopathy wants to begin heavy weight lifting. What should he be told? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 5, Physical Activity, Retinopathy. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.2.b Benefits, challenges, and safety (comorbidities)
  • A man with type 1 diabetes has a stomach virus and cannot keep food down. What should his sick-day plan say about basal insulin? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 6, Hyperglycemic Crises, prevention. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.7.a Sick days
  • A man with type 2 diabetes walks briskly for 50 minutes on Saturday, Sunday and Monday and rests the other four days. Which change brings him in line with the Standards? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 5, Physical Activity, Recommendation 5.36. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.2.c Activity plan (frequency, intensity, time, and types)
  • A newly diagnosed man asks what percentage of his calories should come from carbohydrate. What is the best answer? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 5, Nutrition Therapy, Meal Planning. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.1.a Nutrition recommendations
  • A pregnant woman with type 2 diabetes checks her glucose 1 hour after meals. What is the goal? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 15, Table 15.2, Blood glucose goals in pregnancies associated with diabetes. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.8.d Pre-conception planning, pregnancy, post-partum, and gestational diabetes
  • A soup label lists sodium at 37% Daily Value per serving. How should a person read that number? FDA, How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label, The Percent Daily Value (%DV). Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.1.g Food label interpretation
  • A spot urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio comes back at 68 mg/g. The woman ran a half marathon the day before. What is the next step? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 11, Assessment of Albuminuria and Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.6.e Nephropathy
  • A traveler wears an insulin pump and a glucose sensor. What does the TSA say about airport screening? Transportation Security Administration, Disabilities and Medical Conditions, Insulin Pumps and Glucose Monitors. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.7.d Travel
  • A woman is awake and able to swallow. Her meter reads 60 mg/dL. Which first treatment is preferred? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 6, Hypoglycemia Treatment, Recommendation 6.15. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.5.a Hypoglycemia and hypoglycemia unawareness
  • A woman uses an insulin-to-carbohydrate ratio of 1 unit for every 12 g. Her lunch has 54 g of carbohydrate and her glucose is at goal. What is the mealtime dose? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 9, Recommendation 9.3 (the dose is worked out by this page). Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.1.b Carbohydrates (carbohydrate counting)
  • A woman who has taken metformin for 9 years reports numb, tingling feet and is found to be anemic. Which level do the Standards suggest checking? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 3, Pharmacologic Interventions, Recommendation 3.10. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.3.b Medications (class, action, side effects)
  • A woman who takes glimepiride plans to drink wine at an evening party. What should she be taught? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 5, Nutrition Therapy, Recommendation 5.19. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.1.e Alcohol (amount, precautions)
  • A woman who wears a glucose sensor starts hydroxyurea. Her sensor now reads well above her fingerstick values. What explains this? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 7, Continuous Glucose Monitoring Devices, interfering substances. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.4.a Glucose (device selection, use, metrics)
  • Before a person starts semaglutide, which history is a contraindication on the label? DailyMed (National Library of Medicine), FDA-approved labeling, Ozempic (semaglutide) injection, Boxed Warning; Contraindications. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.3.b Medications (contraindications)
  • Two days after emergency gallbladder surgery, a woman who takes dapagliflozin has nausea, vomiting and belly pain. Her glucose is 168 mg/dL. What should be considered? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 16, SGLT2 Inhibitors in the Perioperative Period. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.5.c Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)
  • When is the first dilated, comprehensive eye examination due for an adult just diagnosed with type 2 diabetes? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 12, Diabetic Retinopathy, Recommendations 12.3 and 12.4. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.C.6.a ADA Clinical Practice screening recommendations

Evaluation, documentation and follow-up 3

  • A man goes home from the hospital with new insulin doses. When is his outpatient follow-up visit preferred? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 16, Transition From the Hospital to the Ambulatory Setting. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.D.2 Revise, document, and communicate plan for follow-up care
  • A man has met his glycemic goal on the same treatment for a year. How often should his glycemic status be assessed? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 6, Glycemic Assessment, Recommendation 6.2. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.D.1.e Evaluate glycemic metrics
  • A woman's A1C has stayed between 8.4% and 8.9% for 18 months on the same dose of metformin. Each visit ends with "recheck in 3 months". What is this pattern called? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 9, Recommendation 9.15. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), II.D.1.a Evaluate achievement and progress toward goals

Standards and practices 3

  • A clinic builds a registry of all its patients with diabetes to find those overdue for eye exams. Which element of the Chronic Care Model is this? American Diabetes Association, Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, Section 1, Care Delivery Systems, Chronic Care Model. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), III.D Describe population health strategies
  • Under the 2022 National Standards for DSMES, what must at least one member of the team be identified as? 2022 National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support (Diabetes Spectrum, 2022), Standard 3: DSMES Team. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), III.A National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support
  • Who is eligible to enroll in a CDC-recognized National Diabetes Prevention Program lifestyle change program? CDC, Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program Standards and Operating Procedures (2024), Participant Eligibility. Outline: CBDCE Examination Content Outline (July 1, 2024), III.B National Diabetes Prevention Program Standards (National DPP)

How this list was compiled: Our own questions, written to the Examination Content Outline (effective July 1, 2024) in the 2026 handbook of the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (https://www.cbdce.org/documents/2693566/2711622/CBDCE+2026+Handbook.d_FINAL_v1.2.pdf/8e2fda09-9289-947c-7587-712a4e74f10a?version=2.0&t=1779473164408, linked from https://www.cbdce.org/cdces/about-the-exam; read 2026-10-14): I Assessment 37, II Care and Education Interventions 105 (disease process 22, individualized education plan 17, education on self-care behaviors 58, evaluation and follow-up 8), III Standards and Practices 8; 150 scored questions. The bank holds 12, 35 (7, 6, 19, 3) and 3. Every fact was read on 2026-10-14 in the public text named under the question: the American Diabetes Association's Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026 (Diabetes Care, volume 49, supplement 1, as deposited in PubMed Central), the 2022 National Standards for Diabetes Self-Management Education and Support, CDC's Diabetes Prevention Recognition Program Standards (2024), FDA-approved labeling on DailyMed, FDA's Nutrition Facts label page, AHRQ's teach-back tool, the TSA page on medical devices, and three named Wikipedia articles for behavior-change terms. Licence: Questions, choices and explanations are original work of this site.

How it works

This certified diabetes educator practice exam has 50 questions of our own, free. The real test is now the CDCES exam. The page is unofficial and not affiliated with or endorsed by the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE).

Read the full guide

What the certified diabetes educator exam covers

The content outline in the 2026 handbook, in force since July 1, 2024 and read October 14, 2026, has 150 scored questions: assessment 37, care and education interventions 105, standards and practices 8. This bank holds 12, 35 and 3.

Timed test

The timed test asks 44 questions in 60 minutes: a quarter of the real exam's questions in a quarter of its time.

A study guide with its sources

Used as a certified diabetes educator study guide, the bank names where to check each answer: the ADA Standards of Care in Diabetes 2026, the 2022 National Standards for DSMES, CDC's prevention program standards or FDA labeling.

  • Education on self-care is the largest part of the outline, 58 of 150 scored questions. This diabetes educator practice test gives it 19 of 50.

Questions and answers

How many questions are on the certified diabetes educator exam?

175 multiple-choice questions in 4 hours, by the CBDCE handbook for 2026. 150 are scored, and 25 are pretest questions that do not count.

What score passes the CDCES exam?

Scores are reported on a scale of 0 to 99, and 70 passes. CBDCE sets the passing point with the Angoff method and equates each form of the exam, so a percent here predicts nothing.

Are CDE exam practice questions and CDCES exam practice questions the same?

Yes. CBDCE says the credential was previously known as Certified Diabetes Educator (CDE). There is one exam, on the outline that took effect on July 1, 2024.

Is there an official CDE exam study guide?

CBDCE says the exam is not based on any one text, so there is no single study guide for certified diabetes educator exam candidates. Its handbook prints the content outline that this page follows.

Are these diabetes educator certification practice tests real exam questions?

No. The 50 questions were written for this page from the public outline and the source each one names. CBDCE's practice examination and the sample questions in its handbook were not used.

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