Free AAMA Certified Medical Assistant (CMA) Practice Question

The symptoms described are indicative of diabetes mellitus, and the family history of autoimmunity suggests the possibility of Type 1 diabetes, an autoimmune destruction of pancreatic beta cells that produce insulin. Therefore, insulin levels would be the specific hormone level of interest to either confirm the production deficiency in Type 1 diabetes or to assess for resistance in Type 2 diabetes. Cortisol levels, though involved in glucose metabolism, are not the primary hormone implicated in the symptoms described, and an elevation might be indicative of Cushing's syndrome, not diabetes. Thyroxine (T4) levels would be assessed if thyroid function issues were suspected, and parathyroid hormone (PTH) would be relevant in calcium regulation disorders.