State one symptom of type II diabetes.

Explain the dietary advice that should be given to a patient who has developed type II diabetes.

decreasing responsiveness to insulin;
high blood glucose;
glucose in urine;
loss of weight / tiredness;
increased production of urine;
dehydration and thirst;

regulate diet/total calorie intake and exercise to ensure a balanced energy budget;
low fat diet to avoid weight gain;
consume complex carbohydrates to ensure gradual release of glucose into blood/avoid sudden effect on blood glucose;
eat regular small meals to ensure a steady supply of glucose;
do not go for long periods without meals to avoid large drop in blood glucose;
consume foods (with low glycemic index) to avoid abrupt changes in blood glucose;
Each statement must be justified to gain a mark.

This question was well answered on the whole, and most knew the symptoms of type II diabetes. It was noted that weaker candidates tended to write about blood sugar or sugar in urine rather than the more accurate term of glucose.

Most answers listed dietary advice without any justification, and since this was an explain question, many gained no marks. There were few accurate descriptions of foods with low glycemic index, a term with which students were expected to be familiar, purely from general knowledge.