Hypoglycemic Symptoms But Still Elevated Glucose

Nurses General Nursing

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

How do you treat a patient who is experiencing hypoglycemic signs and symptoms, yet their glucose reading is higher...like 150mg/dL? I had a conversation with a friend who told me that individuals who normally have elevated glucose levels, say like 250, and it drops, due to not eating, and they may experience the same sort of symptoms, because this is low for them compared to their average. Do you still give them orange juice, to at least help them feel better or is there another intervention? Just curious...

Thanks!:heartbeat

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Specializes in Med/Surg.

Yes, treat them like hypoglycemia but not aggressively. Peanut butter and crackers, OJ without added sugar, etc...

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.
Yes, treat them like hypoglycemia but not aggressively. Peanut butter and crackers, OJ without added sugar, etc...

:up:Thank you BinkieRN!:yeah:

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Specializes in Acute Care.
Yes, treat them like hypoglycemia but not aggressively. Peanut butter and crackers, OJ without added sugar, etc...

I was taught not to add sugar to the OJ in any case...

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Specializes in med-surg 5 years geriatrics 12 years.

I have taken care of a couple residents who had high blood glucose levels while living alone { 300-400 range } and once we tried to bring them to our " normal " range they would feel very hypoglycemic. We don't use OJ as much as more; milk and of course peanut butter and crackers work well.

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Specializes in LTC/SNF, Psychiatric, Pharmaceutical.
How do you treat a patient who is experiencing hypoglycemic signs and symptoms, yet their glucose reading is higher...like 150mg/dL? I had a conversation with a friend who told me that individuals who normally have elevated glucose levels, say like 250, and it drops, due to not eating, and they may experience the same sort of symptoms, because this is low for them compared to their average. Do you still give them orange juice, to at least help them feel better or is there another intervention? Just curious...

Thanks!:heartbeat

I had a couple of people that ran 200-250 routinely. If they had confusion or diaphoresis, a FSBS done at the time would read 90-110, which is a healthy level. I'd just have them eat regular food. I didn't try to load them down on sugar or candy. Apple juice, a health shake, or even peanut butter crackers would resolve the symptoms. If they aren't able to eat a meal for some reason, just makes sure they get their snacks.

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Specializes in Med/Surg.
I was taught not to add sugar to the OJ in any case...

Yep, that's correct. OJ and apple juice are not "concentrated sweets" and along with protein are appropriate food items for a person experiencing hypoglycemic symptoms. Were not talking seriously hypo. Just feeling the symptoms.

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Specializes in Community Health, Med-Surg, Home Health.

Thanks, everyone!

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Specializes in Oncology.

A fast drop can also cause symptoms (like when insulin is peaking). I also feel extremely hypoglycemic when I take albuterol. Just fyi.

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Specializes in Hospital Education Coordinator.

Use the 15 rule - 15 grams of carb and then check BS again in 15 minutes. ADA does not recommend eating till you feel better because it takes time for the brain to get the signal that carbs are on board. Overeating carbs will raise BS.

The more impt thing to look at is overall control. It should NEVER be more than 180 after a meal and 130 fasting.

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Everything is relative. Treat the individual patient, as Husker and Andreas said above.

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Yes, treat them like hypoglycemia but not aggressively. Peanut butter and crackers, OJ without added sugar, etc...

Who adds sugar to O.J? :eek::eek::eek:

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