Clinical Skills 3 - Management of acute hypoglycaemia

Question 1

In the acute management of hypoglycaemia, how should a patient able to swallow and conscious be treated?

Answer 1

Give 15-20g of fast acting glucose

Eg lucozade or glucotab

Re-check blood glucose after 15minutes

Question 2

If the patient is confused but still able to swallow they are a moderate risk patient

What should be given?

Answer 2

2 tubes of glucogel squeezed into buccal mucosa

Check BG after 15-20 minutes

Question 3

If patient is unconscious and cannot have anything by mouth, what is done? (3 choices, what are routes, how many times can they be carried out if patient does not responde)

Answer 3

Give IV glucose over 10 minutes
75ml 20% glucose

or 150ml 10% glucose

Try upto 3 times if no response

or 1mg Glucagon IM once only

Question 4

When should the 1mg IM glucagon not be given?

Answer 4

In patients who are hypo due to to oral hypoglycaemic agent induced hypoglycaemia