Question

A patient with type 1 diabetes who is receiving a continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion via an insulin pump contacts the clinic to report mechanical failure of the infusion pump. The nurse instructs the patient to begin monitoring for signs of:

a. adrenal insufficiency.
b. diabetic ketoacidosis.
c. hyperosmolar, hyperglycemic state.
d. hypoglycemia.

Answer 1

In case of insulin pump failure, the patient with type 1 diabetes should monitor for signs of diabetic ketoacidosis, a serious condition due to insufficient insulin leading to high blood glucose and ketones in the urine.

Step-by-step explanation:

The patient with type 1 diabetes experiencing a mechanical failure of their insulin pump should be advised to monitor for signs of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). This condition can develop if the body does not receive enough insulin. DKA is a serious condition characterized by high blood sugar levels and the presence of ketones in the urine, and it can develop rapidly in people with type 1 diabetes when there is an inadequate insulin supply.

It is important to note that while hypoglycemia is associated with the over-secretion or over-administration of insulin leading to low blood glucose levels, the cessation of insulin delivery due to pump failure poses a risk of high blood glucose or hyperglycemia. In the context of pump failure, unless there is residual excess insulin in the body, hypoglycemia would not typically be a concern unless the patient takes other actions that could lower blood glucose (such as excess exercise or not eating).