Final answer:
Intravenous dextrose (glucose) is the recommended treatment for hypoglycemia in an unconscious patient without a swallowing reflex, ensuring safe and efficient management of blood glucose levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
When treating hypoglycemia in a patient who is unconscious and lacks a swallowing reflex, the recommended option is Intravenous dextrose (glucose). The reason for this is that the unconscious patient requires a quick and efficient method to increase their blood glucose levels and intravenous administration ensures that the glucose can be absorbed directly into the bloodstream without the need for swallowing. Options such as fruit juice cake icing and glucose gel are inappropriate because they require the patient to have an intact swallowing reflex to ensure the treatment does not cause aspiration or choking.
Intravenous dextrose is the safest and most effective way to treat hypoglycemia in an unconscious patient. This approach aligns with the treatment of other medical conditions where intravenous fluids might be necessary, such as dehydration where patients are typically given isotonic saline to replenish fluids.