Chapter 51: Assessment and Management of Patients With Diabetes

A nurse prepares teaching for a client with newly-diagnosed diabetes. Which statements about the role of insulin will the nurse include in the teaching? Select all that apply.

"Insulin permits entry of glucose into the cells of the body." "Insulin promotes synthesis of proteins in various body tissues." "Insulin promotes the storage of fat in adipose tissue."

Which instruction should a nurse give to a client with diabetes mellitus when teaching about "sick day rules"?

"Test your blood glucose every 4 hours.

A nurse is preparing a continuous insulin infusion for a child with diabetic ketoacidosis and a blood glucose level of 800 mg/dl. Which solution is the most appropriate at the beginning of therapy?

100 units of regular insulin in normal saline solution

What is the duration of regular insulin?

4 to 6 hours

A client is receiving insulin lispro at 7:30 AM. The nurse ensures that the client has breakfast by which time?

7:45 AM

A client is admitted with hyperosmolar hyperglycemic nonketotic syndrome (HHNS). Which laboratory finding should the nurse expect in this client?

Blood glucose level 1,100 mg/dl

A nurse educates a group of clients with diabetes mellitus on the prevention of diabetic nephropathy. Which of the following suggestions would be most important?

Control blood glucose levels.

A nurse is preparing a client with type 1 diabetes for discharge. The client can care for himself; however, he's had a problem with unstable blood glucose levels in the past. Based on the client's history, he should be referred to which health care worker?

Dietitian

Which of the following is a characteristic of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA)? Select all that apply.

Elevated blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine Rapid onset More common in type 1 diabetes

Which assessment finding is most important in determining nursing care for a client with diabetes mellitus?

Fruity breath

An older adult patient is in the hospital being treated for sepsis related to a urinary tract infection. The patient has started to have an altered sense of awareness, profound dehydration, and hypotension. What does the nurse suspect the patient is experiencing?

Hyperglycemic hyperosmolar syndrome

A nurse is assessing a client who is receiving total parenteral nutrition (TPN). Which finding suggests that the client has developed hyperglycemia?

Increased urine output

NPH is an example of which type of insulin?

Intermediate-acting

Which type of insulin acts most quickly?

Lispro

The nurse is preparing to administer intermediate-acting insulin to a patient with diabetes. Which insulin will the nurse administer?

NPH

A patient who is diagnosed with type 1 diabetes would be expected to:

Need exogenous insulin.

A nurse expects to find which signs and symptoms in a client experiencing hypoglycemia?

Nervousness, diaphoresis, and confusion

Which clinical characteristic is associated with type 1 diabetes (previously referred to as insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus)?

Presence of islet cell antibodies

Lispro (Humalog) is an example of which type of insulin?

Rapid-acting

A client with diabetes mellitus develops sinusitis and otitis media accompanied by a temperature of 100.8° F (38.2° C). What effect do these findings have on his need for insulin?

They increase the need for insulin

During a class on exercise for clients with diabetes mellitus, a client asks the nurse educator how often to exercise. To meet the goals of planned exercise, the nurse educator should advise the client to exercise:

at least three times per week.

A client has been recently diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and reports continued weight loss despite increased hunger and food consumption. This condition is called:

polyphagia.

A nurse is assigned to care for a postoperative client with diabetes mellitus. During the assessment interview, the client reports that he's impotent and says he's concerned about the effect on his marriage. In planning this client's care, the most appropriate intervention would be to:

suggest referral to a sex counselor or other appropriate professional.

Which instruction about insulin administration should a nurse give to a client?

Always follow the same order when drawing the different insulins into the syringe."

An agitated, confused client arrives in the emergency department. The client's history includes type 1 diabetes, hypertension, and angina pectoris. Assessment reveals pallor, diaphoresis, headache, and intense hunger. A stat blood glucose sample measures 42 mg/dl, and the client is treated for an acute hypoglycemic reaction. After recovery, the nurse teaches the client to treat hypoglycemia by ingesting:

10 to 15 g of a simple carbohydrate.

The nurse is educating the patient with diabetes about the importance of increasing dietary fiber. What should the nurse explain is the rationale for the increase? Select all that apply.

May improve blood glucose levels Decrease the need for exogenous insulin Help reduce cholesterol levels

When administering insulin to a client with type 1 diabetes, which of the following would be most important for the nurse to keep in mind?

Accuracy of the dosage

A nurse is teaching a client recovering from diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) about management of "sick days." The client asks the nurse why it is important to monitor the urine for ketones. Which statement is the nurse's best response?

"Ketones accumulate in the blood and urine when fat breaks down in the absence of insulin. Ketones signal an insulin deficiency that will cause the body to start breaking down stored fat for energy."

A 16-year-old client newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes has a very low body weight despite eating regular meals. The client is upset because friends frequently state, "You look anorexic." Which statement by the nurse would be the best response to help this client understand the cause of weight loss due to this condition?

"Your body is using protein and fat for energy instead of glucose."

A physician orders blood glucose levels every 4 hours for a 4-year-old child with brittle type 1 diabetes. The parents are worried that drawing so much blood will traumatize their child. How can the nurse best reassure the parents?

"Your child will need less blood work as his glucose levels stabilize."

A patient who is 6 months' pregnant was evaluated for gestational diabetes mellitus. The doctor considered prescribing insulin based on the serum glucose result of:

138 mg/dL, 2 hours postprandial.

A nurse is teaching a client with diabetes mellitus about self-management of his condition. The nurse should instruct the client to administer 1 unit of insulin for every:

15 g of carbohydrates.

A nurse is caring for a client with type 1 diabetes who exhibits confusion, light-headedness, and aberrant behavior. The client is conscious. The nurse should first administer:

15 to 20 g of a fast-acting carbohydrate such as orange juice.

A client with a serum glucose level of 618 mg/dl is admitted to the facility. He's awake and oriented, has hot dry skin, and has the following vital signs: temperature of 100.6° F (38.1° C), heart rate of 116 beats/minute, and blood pressure of 108/70 mm Hg. Based on these assessment findings, which nursing diagnosis takes highest priority?

Deficient fluid volume related to osmotic diuresis

A nurse is teaching a client with type 1 diabetes how to treat adverse reactions to insulin. To reverse hypoglycemia, the client ideally should ingest an oral carbohydrate. However, this treatment isn't always possible or safe. Therefore, the nurse should advise the client to keep which alternate treatment on hand?

Glucagon

The nurse is preparing a presentation for a group of adults at a local community center about diabetes. Which of the following would the nurse include as associated with type 2 diabetes?

Insufficient insulin production

The nurse is preparing a presentation for a group of adults at a local community center about diabetes. Which of the following would the nurse include as associated with type 2 diabetes?

Insulin production insufficient

The nurse is describing the action of insulin in the body to a client newly diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. Which of the following would the nurse explain as being the primary action?

It enhances the transport of glucose across the cell membrane.

A client who was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes 14 years ago is admitted to the medical-surgical unit with abdominal pain. On admission, the client's blood glucose level is 470 mg/dl. Which finding is most likely to accompany this blood glucose level?

Rapid, thready pulse

A client with diabetes mellitus has a prescription for 5 units of U-100 regular insulin and 25 units of U-100 isophane insulin suspension (NPH) to be taken before breakfast. At about 4:30 p.m., the client experiences headache, sweating, tremor, pallor, and nervousness. What is the most probable cause of these signs and symptoms?

Serum glucose level of 52 mg/d

A nurse is preparing to administer two types of insulin to a client with diabetes mellitus. What is the correct procedure for preparing this medication?

The short-acting insulin is withdrawn before the intermediate-acting insulin.

A client with type 1 diabetes reports waking up in the middle of the night feeling nervous and confused, with tremors, sweating, and a feeling of hunger. Morning fasting blood glucose readings have been 110 to 140 mg/dL. The client admits to exercising excessively and skipping meals over the past several weeks. Based on these symptoms, the nurse plans to instruct the client to

check blood glucose at 3:00 a.m.