Question

The nurse is assigned to care for a patient who presented to the emergency department with diabetic ketoacidosis. A continuous insulin intravenous infusion is started, and hourly bedside glucose monitoring is ordered. The targeted blood glucose value after the first hour of therapy is:

a. 70 to 120 mg/dL.
b. a decrease of 25 to 50 mg/dL compared with admitting values.
c. a decrease of 50 to 75 mg/dL compared with admitting values.
d. less than 200 mg/dL.

Answer 1

The targeted blood glucose level after the first hour of continuous insulin infusion for diabetic ketoacidosis is less than 200 mg/dL, with the goal of reducing glucose levels safely and avoiding rapid decreases.

Step-by-step explanation:

The targeted blood glucose value after the first hour of therapy for a patient with diabetic ketoacidosis receiving a continuous insulin intravenous infusion is less than 200 mg/dL. Initially, rapidly lowering blood glucose can be dangerous, hence guidelines generally recommend a cautious approach to avoid complications such as cerebral edema. The primary goal is to gradually reduce blood glucose while avoiding hypoglycemia and maintaining appropriate potassium levels. It's crucial to monitor blood glucose levels closely, to bring them down to a safer range, but not to drop them too quickly.