AANP Adult Gerontology Primary Care Nurse Practitioner Practice Exam 2025 – The All-in-One Resource to Ensure Exam Success!

The use of thiazolidinediones, a class of medications primarily used to manage type 2 diabetes, is indeed associated with edema as a notable complication. Thiazolidinediones work by enhancing insulin sensitivity, particularly in muscle and adipose tissue, but they can also lead to fluid retention as a result of their pharmacological effects. This fluid retention can manifest as peripheral edema, contributing to weight gain, and potentially exacerbating heart failure in susceptible individuals.

While thiazolidinediones improve insulin sensitivity, they do not increase insulin resistance, making that option not applicable. Additionally, these medications typically do not cause hypoglycemia as monotherapy because they do not stimulate insulin secretion directly; rather, they work by increasing the body’s sensitivity to insulin. Diarrhea is more commonly associated with other classes of diabetes medications, such as metformin, but is not specifically linked to thiazolidinediones. Therefore, edema stands out as the most relevant complication connected to the use of thiazolidinediones.