Question

A client's problem with ineffective control of type 1 diabetes is pinpointed as a sudden decrease in blood glucose level followed by rebound hyperglycemia. What should the nurse do when this event occurs?

A) Administer a high-carbohydrate meal.
B) Administer a regular insulin injection.
C) Administer an intravenous fluid bolus.
D) Administer glucagon injection.

Answer 1

In the case of sudden hypoglycemia followed by hyperglycemia in a type 1 diabetes patient, the correct course of action is to administer a glucagon injection to quickly raise blood sugar levels.

Step-by-step explanation:

When a client with type 1 diabetes experiences a sudden decrease in blood glucose followed by rebound hyperglycemia, this is often referred to as the Somogyi effect. The appropriate intervention for this scenario would be to administer a glucagon injection. Glucagon is a hormone that raises blood glucose levels by stimulating the breakdown of glycogen into glucose in the liver (a process known as glycogenolysis) and also by promoting the production of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources (a process known as gluconeogenesis). Insulin, in contrast, would not be appropriate as it lowers blood glucose levels, and since the patient is already experiencing hypoglycemia, additional insulin could be harmful. A high-carbohydrate meal would take longer to affect blood glucose levels and may not be immediate enough for the sudden drop. An intravenous fluid bolus could be helpful if the patient is dehydrated but would not directly address the hyperglycemia.