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What is the primary action of oral glucose in a diabetic emergency?
What is the primary action of oral glucose in a diabetic emergency?
Which of the following steps should be taken before administering oral glucose?
Which of the following steps should be taken before administering oral glucose?
What is a major side effect of improperly administered oral glucose?
What is a major side effect of improperly administered oral glucose?
When assisting a patient experiencing a seizure, what is the most important initial action?
When assisting a patient experiencing a seizure, what is the most important initial action?
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What should be done if a patient with altered mental status loses consciousness after receiving oral glucose?
What should be done if a patient with altered mental status loses consciousness after receiving oral glucose?
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Which symptom is typically associated with hypoglycemia?
Which symptom is typically associated with hypoglycemia?
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What should be maintained for a patient experiencing a stroke?
What should be maintained for a patient experiencing a stroke?
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Which of the following is NOT considered a potential cause of altered mental status?
Which of the following is NOT considered a potential cause of altered mental status?
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In the context of diabetic emergencies, what is a recognized reassessment strategy?
In the context of diabetic emergencies, what is a recognized reassessment strategy?
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What type of oxygen administration is recommended during a seizure event?
What type of oxygen administration is recommended during a seizure event?
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What is the primary action to take for a patient with altered mental status?
What is the primary action to take for a patient with altered mental status?
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When should oral glucose be administered to a patient?
When should oral glucose be administered to a patient?
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Which of the following is a contraindication for administering oral glucose?
Which of the following is a contraindication for administering oral glucose?
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Which of the following symptoms may indicate hypoglycemia?
Which of the following symptoms may indicate hypoglycemia?
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What type of glucose product is commonly used in emergencies?
What type of glucose product is commonly used in emergencies?
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What should be performed if a patient with altered mental status is experiencing airway obstruction?
What should be performed if a patient with altered mental status is experiencing airway obstruction?
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In diabetic emergencies, what is the significance of administering high-flow oxygen?
In diabetic emergencies, what is the significance of administering high-flow oxygen?
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What should be done before transporting a patient with altered mental status?
What should be done before transporting a patient with altered mental status?
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How often should the patient’s airway be reassessed in cases of altered mental status?
How often should the patient’s airway be reassessed in cases of altered mental status?
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Which insulin type is typically used for immediate control in diabetic emergencies?
Which insulin type is typically used for immediate control in diabetic emergencies?
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Which of the following symptoms is NOT commonly associated with hypoglycemia?
Which of the following symptoms is NOT commonly associated with hypoglycemia?
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What is the primary cause of hyperglycemia in diabetic emergencies?
What is the primary cause of hyperglycemia in diabetic emergencies?
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In assessing a patient's mental status, what does the 'P' in AVPU stand for?
In assessing a patient's mental status, what does the 'P' in AVPU stand for?
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Which type of insulin is used when the pancreas no longer produces any insulin?
Which type of insulin is used when the pancreas no longer produces any insulin?
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Which of the following statements about diabetic medications is true?
Which of the following statements about diabetic medications is true?
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Which is a correct approach to manage a patient experiencing seizures?
Which is a correct approach to manage a patient experiencing seizures?
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What is the most common cause of altered mental status in diabetes patients?
What is the most common cause of altered mental status in diabetes patients?
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What is a potential consequence of untreated hyperglycemia?
What is a potential consequence of untreated hyperglycemia?
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Which factor is NOT typically associated with an increased risk of stroke?
Which factor is NOT typically associated with an increased risk of stroke?
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What defines insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus?
What defines insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus?
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What is a common assessment tool used to evaluate potential strokes?
What is a common assessment tool used to evaluate potential strokes?
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Which symptom is NOT typically associated with a stroke?
Which symptom is NOT typically associated with a stroke?
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In the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale, what does a positive test for speech involve?
In the Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale, what does a positive test for speech involve?
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What should be done for a patient you suspect may be having a stroke?
What should be done for a patient you suspect may be having a stroke?
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Which of the following is NOT a typical cause of altered mental status?
Which of the following is NOT a typical cause of altered mental status?
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What initial action is recommended for diabetic emergencies?
What initial action is recommended for diabetic emergencies?
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When assessing a patient for hypoglycemia, which symptom is most indicative?
When assessing a patient for hypoglycemia, which symptom is most indicative?
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What is the best course of action to manage a seizure for a patient in an emergency?
What is the best course of action to manage a seizure for a patient in an emergency?
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What does the sample acronym stand for in patient assessment?
What does the sample acronym stand for in patient assessment?
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Which of the following insulin types has the fastest onset of action?
Which of the following insulin types has the fastest onset of action?
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Study Notes
Diabetes and Altered Mental Status
- Diabetes and altered mental status is a chapter topic.
- The overview of the topic includes causes of altered mental status, diabetic emergencies, seizures, stroke, and other possible causes.
- Emergency care of patients with altered mental status includes assessment, airway management, and treatment for diabetic emergencies.
AVPU
- AVPU stands for Alert-oriented, Alert and disoriented, Verbal response, Painful response, and Unconscious.
- These are used to assess levels of consciousness.
Causes of Altered Mental Status
- Hypoglycemia is a cause.
- Poisoning is a cause.
- Intoxication is a cause.
- Hypothermia is a cause.
- Hyperthermia is a cause.
- Head trauma is a cause.
- Infection is a cause.
- Decreasing oxygen levels (also known as hypoxia) is a cause.
Diabetic Emergencies
- Insulin is a hormone that breaks down glucose into usable energy.
- Insipidus and Mellitus are types of diabetes related to anti-diuretic hormone from the pituitary and blood glucose levels, respectively.
- Glucose is a basic sugar found in many foods.
- Diabetes mellitus is a disease where the pancreas fails to produce enough insulin.
- Two forms of diabetes include insulin-dependent (pancreas produces no insulin) and non-insulin-dependent (pancreas still produces some insulin).
- Common diabetic medications include Insulin, Humulin, Diabinese, Orinase, and Micronase.
Blood Sugar Levels
- Hypoglycemia is a symptomatic decrease in blood sugar concentration.
- Hyperglycemia is a symptomatic increase in blood sugar concentration.
Signs and Symptoms of Hypoglycemia
- Rapid onset of altered mental status.
- Intoxicated appearance.
- Elevated heart rate.
- Cold, clammy skin.
- Anxiety.
- Hunger.
- Seizures.
Seizures
- A convulsive body movement or impaired mental state caused by random brain electrical impulses.
- Common seizure causes include fever, infection, poisoning, overdose, and intoxication.
- Other causes include hypoglycemia, head trauma, hypoxia, epilepsy, brain tumor, and unknown.
Stroke
- Strokes occur when brain arteries are blocked or break.
- Most strokes (about 85%) are ischemic, caused by blood clots blocking the arteries.
- Hemorrhagic strokes (about 15%) result from bleeding inside the brain.
- Stroke signs and symptoms include sudden weakness or numbness (often on one side), confusion, trouble speaking or seeing, headache, difficulty walking.
- The Cincinnati Prehospital Stroke Scale evaluates speech, facial droop, and arm drift.
- To assess speech, have the patient repeat "The sky is clear in Cincinnati."
- Examine facial droop or asymmetry when smiling.
- Assess arm drift by having the patient close their eyes and hold their arms out straight.
- Any patient suspected of having a stroke should receive oxygen and be transported immediately to the hospital.
Emergency Care of Patients with Altered Mental Status
- Diabetic emergencies: assessment, airway management, oral glucose administration.
- Scene size-up, initial assessment, focused history and physical exam (SAMPLE, OPQRST).
- Airway management (positioning, suction).
- Maintaining and reassessing the patient's airway is crucial.
- General treatment includes airway maintenance, high-flow oxygen, assisting ventilations as needed, and oral glucose administration.
- Transport the patient after all necessary actions done.
Oral Glucose
- Generic name: Oral glucose
- Trade names: Glutose, Insta-Glucose
- Indications: Patients with altered mental status and a known history of diabetes controlled by medication.
- Contraindications: Unresponsive patients, patients unable to swallow.
- Administration technique: Order from medical direction, ensure consciousness and swallowing ability, place between cheek and gum, or tongue.
- Mechanism of action: Increases blood sugar.
- Side effects: None when given properly, may be aspirated if patient doesn't have a gag reflex.
- Reassessment strategies: If patient loses consciousness or has a seizure, remove the glucose device from the mouth.
Seizure Management
- Protect the patient from the environment.
- Maintain an open airway.
- Administer high-flow oxygen.
- Transport the patient.
Stroke Management
- Maintain a comfortable position.
- Maintain and protect the airway.
- Administer high-flow oxygen.
- Transport the patient.
Summary
- Overview of causes and emergency care of altered mental status.
- Specific details on diabetic emergencies, seizures, and stroke, along with related assessments.
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Description
Explore the relationship between diabetes and altered mental status through key concepts and emergency care strategies. This quiz covers causes of altered mental status, including diabetic emergencies, and assessment techniques like AVPU. Prepare yourself to effectively manage patients with neurological concerns related to diabetes.
