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Diabetes Mellitus — ORE Part 1 MCQ

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ModerateHuman Disease & Dental ManagementDiabetes MellitusORE Part 1

A 55-year-old man with type 2 diabetes controlled by metformin presents for a routine dental examination. His most recent HbA1c is 68 mmol/mol. How would you classify his glycaemic control?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: CPoorly controlled

The correct answer is **A: Poorly controlled**. An HbA1c of 68 mmol/mol is well above the UK NICE target of 48 mmol/mol for type 2 diabetes and exceeds the 53 mmol/mol (7.0%) threshold above which glycaemic control is considered inadequate. **B (Well controlled)** is incorrect—well controlled would imply achieving or being close to the target of 48–53 mmol/mol. **C (Moderately controlled)** is imprecise and misleading; NICE guidance does not recognise a "moderate" category and 68 mmol/mol far exceeds relaxed targets. **D (Target range)** is factually wrong; the target range is 48–53 mmol/mol, not 68. **E (Pre-diabetic)** is incorrect; pre-diabetes is defined as HbA1c 39–47 mmol/mol, and this patient has established type 2 diabetes. For dental assessment, poor glycaemic control increases infection risk and may delay wound healing.

Reference: NICE NG28: Type 2 Diabetes in Adults: Management. Blood glucose management recommendations and patient information, February 2026. https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng28/chapter/Blood-glucose-management