A nurse is teaching a client who has type 1 diabetes mellitus about treating a hypoglycemic episode. Which of the following statements should the nurse include in the teaching?
Explanation & Rationale
A. "Drink 4 to 6 ounces of juice.": Drinking 4 to 6 ounces of juice, which contains carbohydrates, will quickly raise blood glucose levels. This amount is sufficient to correct mild hypoglycemia. B. "Consume two glucose tablets and check your blood glucose 1 hour later.": After consuming glucose tablets, the client should check their blood glucose in about 15 minutes, not 1 hour. If blood glucose is still low, more glucose should be consumed sooner. C. "Consume 1 teaspoon of corn syrup-based glucose gel.": One teaspoon of glucose gel is not enough to treat hypoglycemia. A typical recommendation would be 15-20 grams of fast-acting carbohydrates (e.g., glucose tablets or juice), which is more than 1 teaspoon of gel. D. "Eat two crackers with peanut butter.": This combination is not ideal for treating hypoglycemia quickly. The protein in peanut butter will slow the absorption of glucose, which delays the correction of hypoglycemia. Fast-acting carbohydrates are preferred for rapid treatment.