Final answer:
The treatment option administered to an unconscious hypoglycemic patient without a swallowing reflex is intravenous dextrose.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a hypoglycemic patient lapses into unconsciousness and does not have a swallowing reflex, the recommended treatment option is intravenous dextrose. This is because it can quickly raise the patient's blood glucose levels and provide the necessary energy for the body. If a hypoglycemic patient lapses into unconsciousness and does not have a swallowing reflex, the appropriate treatment is to administer intravenous dextrose. Options such as apple juice, cake icing or peanut butter are not suitable as they require a swallowing reflex to safely ingest. Providing dextrose directly into the bloodstream via IV quickly elevates blood glucose levels and is the safest and most effective method when the patient cannot swallow. In the context of hypoglycemia, glucagon can also be injected subcutaneously or intramuscularly as an alternative emergency treatment because it stimulates the release of glucose from the liver, increasing blood glucose levels. However, in severe cases or when glucagon is not available or the patient is known to have a condition where glucagon might be ineffective (for example, if they have a deficiency of glyogen, like in prolonged fasting or certain liver diseases), intravenous dextrose is the preferred method of treatment.