Question

When assessing an unconscious diabetic patient, the primary visible difference between hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia is the:

Choose one answer.
A. rate and depth of breathing.
B. patient's mental status.
C. rate of the patient's pulse.
D. presence of a medical identification tag.

Answer 1

Option (A), The main visible difference between hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia in an unconscious diabetic patient is the rate and depth of breathing, with hyperglycemia often presenting with deep and rapid Kussmaul respirations.

Step-by-step explanation:

When assessing an unconscious diabetic patient, the primary visible difference between hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia is the: A. rate and depth of breathing.

Patients with hyperglycemia, or high blood sugar, may present with a particular type of deep and rapid breathing known as Kussmaul respiration, which is a sign of diabetic ketoacidosis. On the other hand, a patient with hypoglycemia, or low blood sugar, does not typically display this abnormal breathing pattern. In cases of severe insulin therapy-induced hypoglycemia, the insulin dose might be too high and needs to be adjusted.

During episodes of hyperglycemia, an excessive amount of insulin antagonists might be detected. Symptoms such as blurred vision, frequent urination, and increased thirst are common to both conditions, but symptoms like the smell of acetone on the breath, nausea, hyperventilation, and lethargy are more specific to type 1 diabetes and may indicate hyperglycemia.