blood glucose 68, still need insulin?

wannabeRN2 · Mar 17, 2008

I ran across one question, the patient's blood glucose is 68, what shall you do? do you still admister the insulin or give simple sugar? the correct answer is give insulin, why? isn't the patient already hypoglycemic?

It is hard to answer this question without the full question. However, if you give insulin to a person who has a BS of 68 then they will become hypoglycemic, of course it also depends on how much insulin you are giving.

I would have answered the question by giving simple complex carbohydrates, milk, juice, etc.

Silverdragon102, BSN · Mar 17, 2008

I also think it depends on type of Insulin as some are short acting and others are long acting.

jmgrn65, RN · Mar 17, 2008

Need to know what kind of insulin if it is Lantus than yes you give it.

nyema11 RN · Mar 17, 2008

I ran across one question, the patient's blood glucose is 68, what shall you do? do you still admister the insulin or give simple sugar? the correct answer is give insulin, why? isn't the patient already hypoglycemic?

I would have answered the question the same way as the other student give the patient something to and drink. Was that on a test or out of a book?

victorsunshine · Mar 17, 2008

I ran across one question, the patient's blood glucose is 68, what shall you do? do you still admister the insulin or give simple sugar? the correct answer is give insulin, why? isn't the patient already hypoglycemic?

got this question from Kaplan, pt has regular insulin, blood glucose is 68, and pt is nauseated. the rationale is if you give Orange juice, pt will vomit. "blood glucose increases during illness even though patient cannot eat, admister insulin." Why?

luvschoolnursing, LPN · Mar 17, 2008

With our kids with diabetes in school, we correct the low glucose (one was 38 the other day!!) with juice/glucose tabs then if it is right before lunch, the student gives themselves insulin according to the carbs they are about to eat-these are kids that take humalog before meals. So I guess the answer for what we do is-BOTH. That's why I hate test questions.

nightmare, RN · Mar 17, 2008

Your bodies natural response to illness is to make more sugar.Often this will mean you will need to take a higher dose of insulin than usual,rather than cutting the dose or not taking it.Reducing or not taking it can lead to serious problems such as diabetic ketoacidosis.

wannabeRN2 · Mar 17, 2008

This is the reason why I don't like nclex test questions.

We have 4-5 different answers here explaining why this is is wrong or right.

pinksunRN · Mar 18, 2008

This is the reason why we are not supposed to overthink with every question in the NCLEX. The question only asked if we are to give insulin to the patient...of course we should! DM patients especially type I, needs to have insulin most especially during stressful situations...and remember that they easily rebound from once hypoglycemic state to hyperglycemia which is why close monitoring is key...it all depends on the type of insulin. in this case, regular insulin may be contraindicated...this is just my take on the topic:)

pinksunRN · Mar 18, 2008

got this question from Kaplan, pt has regular insulin, blood glucose is 68, and pt is nauseated. the rationale is if you give Orange juice, pt will vomit. "blood glucose increases during illness even though patient cannot eat, admister insulin." Why?

Because the body gets glucose from other sources through gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis...which may cause diabetic ketoacidosis because of free ketones...

hippylady7211 · Aug 2, 2008

Normal blood sugar is 60-110. I would give them the insulin, making sure that they eat (Meal) right after I give it and recheck the BS in 1 and 2 hours.