Final answer:
Oral glucose should be given to a patient who has an altered mental status and a history of diabetes. It should not be given to patients with an absent gag reflex or to unresponsive patients. A fasting blood glucose level less than 100 mg/dL is considered normal, and managing hypoglycemia is crucial for individuals with diabetes.
Step-by-step explanation:
In general, oral glucose should be given to a patient who has an altered mental status and a history of diabetes (option 2). This intervention is appropriate because individuals with diabetes are at risk of developing hypoglycemia, which can cause altered mental status. Oral glucose is a quick and effective way to raise blood glucose levels, provided the patient has a functioning gag reflex and is conscious enough to safely swallow.
Administering oral glucose to a patient with documented hypoglycemia and an absent gag reflex (option 3) is contraindicated because it increases the risk of aspiration. For unresponsive patients, even in the absence of a history of diabetes (option 4), oral glucose is not the first line of intervention as it poses similar risks.
A blood glucose level less than 100 mg/dL (option 1) is considered to be within a normal range for a fasting individual, as typical fasting blood glucose levels range from 60-90 mg/100 ml. For non-diabetic persons or insulin-responsive diabetes mellitus (IDDM) patients, the glucose level should return to normal within 2½ hours post-glucose intake, as indicated by Graph-A. Understanding the glucose tolerance test (GTT) and normal physiological responses to glucose intake and insulin are critical when assessing and treating patients with altered blood glucose levels.