An adolescent patient tells the nurse at school that he is feeling nervous and hungry. The school nurse assesses the patient and finds he has tachycardia and is diaphoretic. What should the school nurse administer?

Question

A) Non-diet soda, 1 oz
B) Three hard candies (eg, Life Savers)
C) Fruit juice, 4 to 6 oz
D) Honey, 1 tsp

Answer 1

Ans: C
Feedback: The usual recommendation for treatment of hypoglycemia is for 10 to 15 g of a fast-acting, simple carbohydrate orally, such as three or four commercially prepared glucose tablets; 4 to 6 oz of fruit juice or regular soda; 6 to 10 Life Savers or other hard candies; or 2 to 3 tsp of sugar or honey. It is unnecessary to add sugar to juice, even it if is labeled as unsweetened juice, because the fruit sugar in juice contains enough simple carbohydrate to raise the blood glucose level and additional sugar may result in a sharp rise in blood sugar that will last for several hours.