A diabetic patient has polydipsia. This means she is

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Multiple Choice

A diabetic patient has polydipsia. This means she is

Explanation:
Polydipsia means excessive thirst. In diabetes, high blood glucose causes osmotic diuresis, so the kidneys excrete more sugar in the urine, pulling water along with it. This fluid loss can lead to dehydration, which triggers the thirst response, causing the person to feel and act thirsty. That’s why the correct interpretation is being excessively thirsty. The other options don’t fit polydipsia: being unable to swallow isn’t related to thirst; low blood sugar isn’t what polydipsia describes (it’s more about hypoglycemia); urinating frequently describes polyuria, not thirst, though it often occurs alongside polydipsia in diabetes.

Polydipsia means excessive thirst. In diabetes, high blood glucose causes osmotic diuresis, so the kidneys excrete more sugar in the urine, pulling water along with it. This fluid loss can lead to dehydration, which triggers the thirst response, causing the person to feel and act thirsty. That’s why the correct interpretation is being excessively thirsty.

The other options don’t fit polydipsia: being unable to swallow isn’t related to thirst; low blood sugar isn’t what polydipsia describes (it’s more about hypoglycemia); urinating frequently describes polyuria, not thirst, though it often occurs alongside polydipsia in diabetes.

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