What should a nurse do when a patient has hypoglycemia?

What should a nurse do when a patient has hypoglycemia?

If you have symptoms of hypoglycemia, do the following: Eat or drink 15 to 20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates. These are sugary foods without protein or fat that are easily converted to sugar in the body. Try glucose tablets or gel, fruit juice, regular — not diet — soft drinks, honey, and sugary candy.

What could we teach the patient about how do you identify hypoglycemia?

Key messages for patients about hypoglycemia include the following recommendations:

1. Review the symptoms of hypoglycemia.
2. Teach the “rule of 15s”: Treat with 15 g of carbohydrates, wait 15 minutes and treat with another 15 g of carbohydrates if the blood glucose level is still too low.

How do you control hypoglycemia in emergency?

You can treat the early symptoms of hypoglycemia by eating fast-acting carbohydrates….Eat or drink about 15 grams of fast-acting carbs, such as:

1. glucose tablets or glucose gel.
2. 1/2 cup of fruit juice or non-diet soda.
3. 1 tablespoon of honey or corn syrup.
4. 1 tablespoon of sugar dissolved in water.

What are the symptoms of hypoglycemia that must be taught to a patient who has just been diagnosed with diabetes mellitus?

Symptoms

• Shakiness.
• Dizziness.
• Sweating.
• Hunger.
• Fast heartbeat.
• Inability to concentrate.
• Confusion.
• Irritability or moodiness.

How do I teach my blood sugar monitoring?

Prick the side of your finger (not the tip) with the lancet. Do not use the same finger consecutively. Gently rub the finger until a small drop of blood appears. Follow instructions that come with your meter for inserting the test strip, applying blood to the strip, and using your blood glucose meter.

At what blood glucose level a nurse should administer sugar?

Glucose is essential for cell metabolism. For optimum cell function, blood glucose levels should be maintained normally at a level of 4-7mmols/L.

How do you assess for hypoglycemia in nursing?

Patients with reactive hypoglycemia will have a blood glucose level less than normal after eating. Assess blood glucose level before meals and at bedtime. Blood glucose should be between 140 to 180 mg/dL. Non-intensive care patients should be maintained at pre-meal levels <140 mg/dL.

How can you prevent hypoglycemia?

Preventing Hypoglycemia

1. Follow your meal plan.
2. Eat at least three evenly spaced meals each day with between-meal snacks as prescribed.
3. Plan your meals no more than 4 to 5 hours apart.
4. Exercise 30 minutes to 1 hour after meals.
5. Double-check your insulin and dose of diabetes medicine before taking it.

How do hospitals manage hypoglycemia?

IV dextrose is the best treatment for inpatients and for patients found by emergency medical services personnel. IV dextrose is available in different concentrations. Concentrated IV dextrose 50% (D50W) is most appropriate for severe hypoglycemia, providing 25 g of dextrose in a standard 50-mL bag.

What are nursing interventions of hypoglycemia?

Nursing Interventions and Rationale Administer basal and prandial insulin. Adherence to the therapeutic regimen promotes tissue perfusion. Watch out for signs of morning hyperglycemia. Morning hyperglycemia, as the name suggests, is an elevated blood glucose level arising in the morning due to insufficient level of insulin. Teach patient how to perform home glucose monitoring.

What is reactive hypoglycemia?

Reactive hypoglycemia is a relatively uncommon meal-induced hypoglycemic disorder. Most patients with adrenergic-mediated symptoms have a diagnosis other than reactive hypoglycemia. In many patients with this self-diagnosis, other disorders can be attributed as a cause for symptoms, especially neuropsychiatric disease.

What is the nursing diagnosis for low blood sugar?

Hypoglycemia Nursing Management. Hypoglycemia refers to the low blood sugar or glucose reading in the blood. The severity of its symptoms may seem like of diseases but it is not. Hypoglycemia is a sign of an underlying health problem. Most of the time, this condition occurs in medication dependent diabetic patients.

What is diabetes and how can I manage it?

Physical activity is another important part of your diabetes management plan. When you exercise, your muscles use sugar (glucose) for energy. Regular physical activity also helps your body use insulin more efficiently. These factors work together to lower your blood sugar level.