Question

A nurse is teaching a school age child who has a new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus. Which of the following statements by the child indicates an understanding of the teaching?

A)You can use a vial of insulin for up to 90 days. The child can use an opened vial of insulin for 28 to 45 days stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
B)You can use a vial of insulin for up to 30 days. The child can use an opened vial of insulin for 28 to 30 days stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator.
C)minimize physical contact with the child initially
D)Inability to vocalize vowel sounds

Answer 1

A school-age child with type 1 diabetes should understand that an opened vial of insulin can be used for up to 30 days. Insulin injections are critical for managing blood sugar levels by facilitating the uptake and utilization of glucose by the body's cells.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement by the child with a new diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus that demonstrates an understanding of the teaching about insulin usage would be, "You can use a vial of insulin for up to 30 days." This reflects the correct knowledge that an opened vial of insulin can be used for 28 to 30 days, whether stored at room temperature or in the refrigerator. Additionally, it is important to understand that insulin injections are essential in managing type 1 diabetes as they allow the transport and storage of glucose to decrease blood glucose levels after consuming a meal, particularly one that is large or high in glucose.

People with type 1 diabetes must frequently check their blood sugar and take insulin injections for life, as they cannot produce insulin naturally due to the autoimmune destruction of the insulin-secreting beta cells in the pancreas. Insulin injections enable glucose to be utilized by the cells, which helps to bring blood sugar levels back to normal.