A client is in the hospital after having an operation. The client's fasting blood glucose is 186 mg/dL. The client is alarmed and says "Oh, no! Do I have diabetes now?" What response by the nurse is best?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Besides diabetes, any physiologic stress can elevate the blood glucose, including surgery. The nurse would first provide the client with that information. This statement is not only the most accurate one, but also reassuring. Although one reading is not enough to diagnose diabetes, this statement does not provide any real information and leaves the client wondering. A reading over 400 mg/dL is considered an emergency. The client's blood glucose reading will not be substantially different in 20 minutes, and there is no reason to recheck it if the nurse is confident the machine is working and technique used was appropriate.

A Client Is in the Hospital After Having an Operation