A nurse is caring for a client who has gestational diabetes and reports feeling shaky, sweaty, and having blurred vision. The client’s blood glucose level is 48 mg/dL. Which of the following foods should the nurse give to the client? (Select all that apply).
A.
1 tbsp honey
B.
5 hard candies
C.
240 mL regular soda
D.
120 mL unsweetened fruit juice
E.
120 mL milk
The correct answer and Explanation is :
The correct foods the nurse should give to the client are A. 1 tbsp honey, B. 5 hard candies, and C. 240 mL regular soda.
Explanation:
The client’s blood glucose level is 48 mg/dL, which is significantly below the normal range (typically 70-100 mg/dL when fasting). This indicates hypoglycemia, a dangerous condition that requires prompt intervention to raise blood sugar levels.
To manage hypoglycemia in a client with gestational diabetes, the goal is to provide a source of fast-acting carbohydrates that can quickly raise the blood glucose level. Foods with simple sugars that are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream are the most effective for this.
- A. 1 tbsp honey: Honey is a rich source of simple sugars (glucose and fructose) that are rapidly absorbed into the bloodstream, making it an excellent choice for treating hypoglycemia.
- B. 5 hard candies: Hard candies also provide simple carbohydrates that can be quickly broken down into glucose, helping to raise the client’s blood sugar promptly.
- C. 240 mL regular soda: Regular soda (not diet) contains a high amount of sugar, particularly sucrose or high-fructose corn syrup, which is rapidly absorbed, making it effective in treating hypoglycemia.
Foods that are not appropriate:
- D. 120 mL unsweetened fruit juice: Unsweetened fruit juice does not contain enough sugar to effectively treat hypoglycemia. It may raise blood sugar slowly but not as quickly or effectively as the options with higher sugar content.
- E. 120 mL milk: Milk contains both carbohydrates (lactose) and protein, but the lactose in milk is broken down more slowly than the simple sugars in soda, candy, or honey. While milk may help stabilize blood sugar over time, it is not ideal for rapidly correcting hypoglycemia.
Thus, for immediate intervention in hypoglycemia, the nurse should provide options that contain fast-acting sugars like honey, hard candies, or regular soda.