Question

The nurse is caring for a client with diabetes type I who received a prescribed dose of regular insulin 30 minutes prior to the meal. The client reports nausea and vomiting. Which action should the nurse take?

Administer another dose of regular insulin

Encourage the client to eat a small amount of carbohydrates

Assess blood glucose level

Notify the healthcare provider

Answer 1

The nurse should immediately assess the blood glucose level of the client with type 1 diabetes who reports nausea and vomiting post-insulin administration to determine if the symptoms are due to hypoglycemia.

Step-by-step explanation:

The nurse should assess blood glucose level after the client with type 1 diabetes reports nausea and vomiting post-insulin administration. It is crucial to verify if the symptoms are due to hypoglycemia, a common side effect of insulin therapy.

People with type 1 diabetes rely on insulin injections to manage their blood glucose levels. When blood sugar rises, insulin helps its transport into cells, bringing levels back to normal. However, too much insulin can cause blood sugar to drop too low, leading to hypoglycemia. Symptoms of hypoglycemia include nausea and vomiting, similar to what the client is experiencing. The nurse's immediate action should be to verify the blood glucose level to determine if these symptoms are due to hypoglycemia. A corrective action, like consuming carbohydrates, would be determined by the assessment's outcome. Notifying the healthcare provider may be necessary based on the results. Re-administration of insulin should not occur without confirming current glucose levels, as this could exacerbate potential hypoglycemia.