Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

If a diabetic overdoses on insulin, what is likely to happen?

1. Increased glucose absorption

2. Decreased conversion of glucose to glycogen

3. Increased conversion of glucose to glycogen

4. Increased blood glucose levels

The correct answer is: Increased conversion of glucose to glycogen

In the case of an insulin overdose, an increased conversion of glucose to glycogen occurs in the liver and muscles, which leads to a decrease in blood glucose levels. Insulin facilitates the uptake of glucose into cells and promotes glycogenesis—the process of converting glucose to glycogen for storage. Thus, with too much insulin present, the body's ability to manage glucose is heavily altered, causing a significant drop in blood glucose levels. While glucose absorption from the digestive tract would not increase per se, the conversion and storage of glucose are enhanced due to the abundant insulin. This results in excessive glycogen formation at the expense of available blood glucose, leading ultimately to hypoglycemia, which is a serious condition requiring immediate intervention. Understanding this process highlights why an insulin overdose can have critical and life-threatening effects if not addressed promptly.