EMT Chapter 20: Endocrine Emergencies Quiz & Flashcards

Questions and Answers

Based on the clinical presentation of a 28-year-old female patient with type 1 diabetes, what should you suspect?

Is significantly hyperglycemic. (correct)

Has a urinary tract infection.

Has overdosed on her insulin. (correct)

Has a low BG level.

What should the EMT do for a 31-year-old male with a seizure who is unresponsive and has rapid, shallow breathing?

Assist the patient's ventilations with a bag-valve mask. (correct)

Position the patient on his side and give oxygen via non-rebreathing mask.

Place a thin layer of oral glucose between his cheek and gums. (correct)

Administer oxygen by nasal cannula and assess his BG level. (correct)

What should you do in response to a 35-year-old male patient who is confused, diaphoretic, and holding a baseball bat?

Retreat at once and call law enforcement. (correct)

Be assertive and talk the patient down. (correct)

Calm him down so you can assess him.

Contact medical control for instructions. (correct)

What should you do for a 19-year-old male who cannot remember if he took his insulin?

Transport only with close, continuous monitoring en route. Signup and view all the answers

What should you suspect for a 42-year-old male found unresponsive with a BG level of 75 mg/dL?

Suspect that he has intracranial bleeding, assist his ventilations, and transport rapidly to an appropriate hospital. Signup and view all the answers

A 75-year-old male with type 1 diabetes complains of chest pain. What should you treat him as though he is experiencing?

A heart attack. Signup and view all the answers

Which clinical sign would MOST likely indicate the correct diagnosis in a patient with altered mental status and diabetes?

Deep and rapid breathing. Signup and view all the answers

What should you do for a 29-year-old female with confusion, rapid respirations, and a low oxygen saturation?

Provide ventilatory support. Signup and view all the answers

What are classic signs and symptoms of hypoglycemia?

Cold, clammy skin; bradycardia; hunger; and deep, rapid respirations. Signup and view all the answers

Diabetes is MOST accurately defined as a(n):

Mass excretion of glucose by the kidneys. Signup and view all the answers

Diabetic ketoacidosis occurs when:

Insulin is not available in the body. Signup and view all the answers

Excessive eating caused by cellular 'hunger' is called:

Dyspepsia. Signup and view all the answers

Hemoglobin is:

Found within the red blood cells and is responsible for carrying oxygen. Signup and view all the answers

Oral glucose should be given to any patient who:

Has documented hypoglycemia and an absent gag reflex. Signup and view all the answers

Patients with thrombophilia are at an increased risk for:

Various cancers. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following does NOT control type 2 diabetes?

Tolbutamide (Orinase). Signup and view all the answers

Patients with uncontrolled diabetes experience polyuria because:

High blood sugar levels cause permanent kidney damage. Signup and view all the answers

Proper procedure for administering oral glucose to a patient includes all of the following, EXCEPT:

Checking the medications expiration date. Signup and view all the answers

Symptomatic hypoglycemia will MOST likely develop if a patient:

Takes too much of his or her prescribed insulin. Signup and view all the answers

The normal blood glucose level is between:

80 and 120 mg/dL. Signup and view all the answers

To which of the following diabetic patients should you administer oral glucose?

A conscious 37-year-old female with nausea and vomiting. Signup and view all the answers

Type 1 diabetes is defined as:

Is typically treated with medications such as metformin. Signup and view all the answers

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

Presence of a medical identification tag. Signup and view all the answers

When obtaining a SAMPLE history from a patient with diabetes who has an altered mental status, it would be MOST important to determine:

If there is a family history of diabetes or related conditions. Signup and view all the answers

Which condition is a diabetic patient at an increased risk of developing?

Depression. Signup and view all the answers

Which sign or symptom would the EMT MOST likely encounter in a patient with new-onset type 1 diabetes?

Weight loss and polyuria. Signup and view all the answers

Which statement regarding sickle cell disease is correct?

Because of their abnormal shape, red blood cells in patients with sickle cell disease are less apt to lodge in a blood vessel. Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Endocrine and Hematologic Emergencies

Patients with significant hyperglycemia can have excessive urination, confusion, and may be unresponsive to stimuli.
Unresponsive diabetic patients with shallow breathing and cyanosis should have their ventilations supported via a bag-valve mask.
In violent or confused patients exhibiting unusual behavior, retreating and calling law enforcement is a critical safety measure.
If a diabetic patient is unsure about their insulin intake and dietary actions, administering oral glucose after medical control consultation is advisable.
Unresponsive patients with a known clotting disorder such as hemophilia may indicate intracranial bleeding needing rapid transport.
Chest pain and weakness in a diabetic patient who has taken insulin recently should prompt treatment as if experiencing a heart attack.
Deep and rapid breathing can indicate an acute metabolic disturbance in patients with altered mental status.
Rapid and shallow breathing, along with low oxygen saturation, necessitates ventilatory support for critically ill patients.
Classic symptoms of hypoglycemia include cool, clammy skin, weakness, tachycardia, and rapid respirations.
Diabetes is primarily a disorder of glucose metabolism, marked by inadequate insulin production or response.
Diabetic ketoacidosis arises when there is an absence of insulin, leading to serious metabolic imbalances.
Polyphagia refers to excessive eating driven by cellular hunger associated with uncontrolled diabetes.
Hemoglobin is vital for oxygen transport within red blood cells and plays a central role in respiratory function.
Oral glucose should be given to patients with altered mental status and a history of diabetes, but caution is required for those unresponsive or with gag reflex issues.
Patients with thrombophilia have an elevated risk for pulmonary embolism due to dysfunctional coagulation pathways.
Type 2 diabetes typically is managed through diet, exercise, and medications; supplemental insulin is an exception.
Uncontrolled diabetes can lead to polyuria due to excessive glucose excretion by the kidneys.
Important procedures before administering oral glucose include checking the expiration date and obtaining medical control permission.
Symptomatic hypoglycemia is often a result of taking excessive insulin relative to food intake.
Normal blood glucose levels range from 80 to 120 mg/dL, critical for metabolic homeostasis.
Oral glucose should be administered to confused patients showing signs of hypoglycemia with elevated heart rate and pallor.
Type 1 diabetes is characterized by the absence of insulin production by the pancreas.
Differences in breathing patterns (rate and depth) are critical in distinguishing between hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia during assessment.
Recent illness or stress can significantly affect a diabetic patient's condition, making it vital to include this in the SAMPLE history.
Diabetics face a higher risk of developing complications such as blindness and other severe long-term health issues.
New-onset type 1 diabetes often presents with weight loss and polyuria due to the body's inability to utilize glucose properly.
Sickle cell disease leads to abnormally shaped red blood cells, which results in impaired oxygen transport and increased risk of vascular complications.

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Description

This quiz focuses on endocrine and hematologic emergencies as outlined in EMT Chapter 20. It includes key concepts related to diabetes, symptoms, and emergency responses. Test your knowledge with flashcards designed to enhance your understanding of these critical conditions.

EMT Chapter 20: Endocrine Emergencies Flashcards