When should a hypoglycemic patient be alerted?
Serious hypoglycemia is generally defined as a blood glucose below 54 mg/dL (3 mmol/L). This level of hypoglycemia should be immediately treated. Severe hypoglycemia is defined as an event during which you are confused or pass out and need the help of another person for recovery, regardless of your glucose level.
What is the hypoglycemic protocol?
A key element of all hypoglycemia management protocols is to treat the patient with 15–20 g of glucose and to follow with a recheck of the blood glucose level 15 minutes later, sometimes called the “15-15 rule” or the “Rule of 15” (15–18).
How do you assess a hypoglycemic patient?
If you have signs or symptoms of low blood sugar, check your blood sugar level with a blood glucose meter — a small device that measures and displays your blood sugar level. You have hypoglycemia when your blood sugar level drops below 70 mg/dL (3.9 mmol/L ).
How can a nurse manage a client with hypoglycemia?
For the unconscious patient, nursing management of hypoglycemia includes obtaining adequate intravenous access, and possible administration of 50% dextrose or glucagon, per the facility’s protocol or provider’s order.
What 6 things should you look for to identify hypoglycemia?
If blood sugar levels become too low, hypoglycemia signs and symptoms can include:
- Looking pale.
- Shakiness.
- Sweating.
- Headache.
- Hunger or nausea.
- An irregular or fast heartbeat.
- Fatigue.
- Irritability or anxiety.
How does a nurse treat hypoglycemia?
Severe hypoglycemia can be treated with intravenous (IV) dextrose followed by infusion of glucose. For conscious patients able to take oral (PO) medications, readily absorbable carbohydrate sources (such as fruit juice) should be given.
What is the nursing diagnosis for hypoglycemia?
Nursing Diagnosis: Unstable Blood Glucose Level related to insufficient checking of blood sugar levels and lack of compliance to proper diabetes management secondary to hypoglycemia as evidenced by fatigue and tremors.
What should a nurse do when a patient has hypoglycemia?
What should a nurse do if patient has hypoglycemia?
If you have hypoglycemia symptoms, do the following:
- Eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates. These are sugary foods or drinks without protein or fat that are easily converted to sugar in the body.
- Recheck blood sugar levels 15 minutes after treatment.
- Have a snack or meal.
What is hypoglycemia?
Hypoglycemia occurs when your blood sugar (glucose) level falls too low. There are several reasons why this can happen; the most common is a side effect of drugs used to treat diabetes.
How do you use a medical ID for hypoglycemia?
Medical IDs are usually worn as a bracelet or a necklace. Traditional IDs are etched with basic, key health information about the person, and some IDs now include compact USB drives that can carry a person’s full medical record for use in an emergency. Very often, hypoglycemia symptoms occur when blood sugar levels fall below 70 mg/dL.
What is the aim of the hypoglycemic management guidelines?
The aim is to provide guidelines for the evaluation and management of adults with hypoglycemic disorders, including those with diabetes mellitus.
When do you start to have symptoms of hypoglycemia?
Other people may start to have symptoms of hypoglycemia when their blood sugar levels are higher than 70 mg/dL. This can happen when your blood sugar levels are very high and start to go down quickly. If this is happening, discuss treatment with your diabetes care team.