A client in emergency department (ED) is unconscious due to severe hypoglycemia. Which drug would the nurse administer?

Rationale: A. In an unconscious client with severe hypoglycemia, rapid correction of blood glucose is critical to prevent brain injury and other complications. Because the client cannot safely swallow, oral glucose is not an option, making parenteral administration of glucagon (IM, subcutaneous, or IV) the treatment of choice. Glucagon works by stimulating glycogenolysis in the liver, quickly raising blood glucose levels and restoring consciousness. B. Exenatide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist used for long-term glycemic control in type 2 diabetes. It enhances insulin secretion and suppresses glucagon release in response to meals. Administering exenatide in a hypoglycemic client would worsen the hypoglycemia, potentially leading to seizures or death. It is not an emergency treatment for low blood sugar. C. Metformin is an oral antidiabetic agent that decreases hepatic glucose production and increases peripheral insulin sensitivity. It does not raise blood glucose levels and therefore cannot correct hypoglycemia. Giving metformin to a hypoglycemic patient would be ineffective and potentially dangerous because it delays urgent correction of low glucose. D. Glipizide is a sulfonylurea that stimulates insulin secretion from pancreatic beta cells. Administering it to a patient who is already hypoglycemic would further lower blood glucose, exacerbating the emergency situation and increasing the risk of seizures, coma, or death. It is contraindicated in acute hypoglycemia.