In suspected hypoglycemia, if unconscious?

In suspected hypoglycemia, if unconscious?

• A. NPO
• B. Administer insulin
• C. Provide juice
• D. 3 oral glucose tabs

Answer: (A)

When hypoglycemia is suspected and the patient is unconscious, you must keep nothing by mouth. The airway isn’t protected, so giving anything orally risks aspiration and cannot be safely swallowed. In this situation the focus is on airway protection and definitive glucose therapy through parenteral routes (such as IV dextrose or glucagon if IV access isn’t available) per protocol. Administering insulin would worsen the low blood sugar, and giving juice or oral glucose tabs is inappropriate because the patient cannot safely swallow and could choke or aspirate. So the correct action is to maintain NPO status and proceed with airway management and appropriate glucose administration.

When hypoglycemia is suspected and the patient is unconscious, you must keep nothing by mouth. The airway isn’t protected, so giving anything orally risks aspiration and cannot be safely swallowed. In this situation the focus is on airway protection and definitive glucose therapy through parenteral routes (such as IV dextrose or glucagon if IV access isn’t available) per protocol. Administering insulin would worsen the low blood sugar, and giving juice or oral glucose tabs is inappropriate because the patient cannot safely swallow and could choke or aspirate. So the correct action is to maintain NPO status and proceed with airway management and appropriate glucose administration.