Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) Practice Exam

How can a patient gauge if they are exercising at the correct intensity using the rating of perceived exertion (RPE)?

1. Counting breaths per minute

2. Estimating exercise intensity based on ability to converse

3. Estimating based on heart rate changes

4. Focusing on how tired they feel using a scale of 6-20

The correct answer is: Focusing on how tired they feel using a scale of 6-20

Using a scale of 6-20 to gauge how tired one feels is a reliable method to assess exercise intensity through the rating of perceived exertion (RPE). This scale, developed by Gunnar Borg, allows individuals to connect their subjective feelings of effort, strain, and fatigue during physical activity to a numerical value. Each number on the scale corresponds to a level of exertion, helping patients self-monitor their intensity levels during exercise. This approach is valuable for several reasons. First, it empowers patients to listen to their bodies and adjust their exercise intensity based on their perceived effort, rather than relying solely on external measurements like heart rate or breathing patterns. It promotes a deeper awareness of how their bodies respond to physical activity, which is particularly important for individuals managing chronic conditions, such as diabetes, where exercise can significantly impact their health. The other methods listed, while they can provide some insight into exercise intensity, do not provide the same comprehensive subjective assessment as the RPE scale. For instance, counting breaths per minute may not accurately reflect the overall exertion level, particularly as fitness improves. Similarly, the ability to converse can vary based on individual fitness levels and may not be a universally applicable metric. Lastly, estimating exercise intensity based on heart rate changes requires access