Which of the following is not a complication of diabetes?

Appeared in: RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2022

Explanation

Myopathy, which is a disease of the muscle tissue, is not considered a primary or classic long-term complication of diabetes mellitus.
The primary long-term complications of diabetes are vascular and neurological, stemming from chronic hyperglycemia.
While some muscle-related issues can occur in diabetic patients, they are not as common or characteristic as retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy.

Option B: Retinopathy is a well-established microvascular complication of diabetes, caused by damage to the blood vessels of the retina.
Option C: Nephropathy, or kidney disease, is a major microvascular complication of diabetes and a leading cause of end-stage renal disease.
Option D: Neuropathy, or nerve damage, is one of the most common complications of diabetes, affecting about 50% of patients over time.

Clinical Relevance

Nursing practice connection: This is primarily an exam-oriented knowledge point with limited direct bedside application, so retain Long-term complications of Diabetes Mellitus as background academic context rather than a clinical decision trigger.
Nurses play a crucial role in screening for and managing diabetes complications through regular patient assessments, including foot exams, vision checks, and monitoring kidney function tests.
Patient education is a key nursing intervention, focusing on tight glycemic control, blood pressure management, and healthy lifestyle choices to prevent or delay the onset of these complications.
What if? If a patient with diabetes reports new-onset muscle weakness or pain (myopathy), the nurse should not dismiss it but investigate other potential causes, as it is not a typical diabetic complication and could indicate a different underlying pathology.

How to Approach the Question

First, identify the negative framing of the question by spotting the keyword 'not'. This means you are looking for the option that is an exception.
Recall the major long-term complications associated with diabetes mellitus. Think in categories: microvascular and macrovascular.
Evaluate each option against your knowledge. Retinopathy (eyes), nephropathy (kidneys), and neuropathy (nerves) are the classic triad of microvascular complications.
The option that does not fit into the well-known categories of diabetic complications is Myopathy (muscle disease).
Therefore, select Myopathy as the correct answer because it is not a primary complication of diabetes.

Concept Tested & Keywords

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E6 Medicine Harrison 22e Part 2 p. 1130-1132

E6 Nursing Vital Signs p. 207-209

E6 Pathology- ROBBINS & COTRAN PATHOLOGIC BASIS OF DISEASE 10TH Ed p. 1111-1113

Practise the full RUHS, Jaipur, PB B.Sc Nursing Entrance-2022

Attempt every question from this paper in a timed mock, then review the full solution for each one.