Final answer:
Hypoglycemia should be ruled out before attributing a patient's level of consciousness to stroke.
Step-by-step explanation:
Before attributing a patient's level of consciousness to a stroke, it is important to rule out hypoglycemia as a potential disorder. Hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, can cause confusion, dizziness, and loss of consciousness, which can mimic the symptoms of a stroke. Therefore, a thorough evaluation of a patient's blood sugar levels should be done to exclude hypoglycemia as the cause of altered consciousness.