A diabetic patient presents as alert but irritable and confused. His airway is patent with an intact gag reflex and breathing is adequate. You do not have a glucometer available and are not sure if his blood sugar is high or low. In this situation, which one of the following should be your next best action?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Administering oral glucose is the safest option when you're unsure if the patient's blood sugar is high or low, as it can quickly raise low blood sugar without significant harm if the blood sugar is already high, especially in a confused and irritable diabetic patient where hypoglycemia is a critical concern.

A Diabetic Patient Presents as Alert but Irritable and Confused