A hospital client has been complaining of increasing fatigue for several hours, and his nurse has entered his room to find him unarousable

Question

The nurse immediately checked the client's blood glucose level (and reverified with a second blood glucose meter), which is 22 mg/dL (1.2 mmol/L). The nurse should prepare to administer which of the following?
A) A snack that combines simple sugars, protein, and complex carbohydrates
B) A 50% glucose solution intravenously
C) Infusion of rapid-acting insulin
D) An oral solution containing glucagon and simple sugars

Answer 1

Ans: B
Feedback:
The client's presentation and low blood sugars indicate the need for aggressive treatment such as glucose (20 to 50 mL of a 50% solution) intravenously. The unconscious client cannot take anything by mouth, and glucagon can never be administered orally. Insulin would be potentially fatal.