MEDizzy - A 13-year-old boy with type 1 diabetes received his morning

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Drugs for Diabetes Mellitus

A 13-year-old boy with type 1 diabetes received his morning injection of a mixture of insulin lispro and glargine. A few hours later, he was found unconscious in his room . His heart rate was 120 bpm and body temperature 94.7°F (34.8°C), and tetanic contractions of skeletal muscles were present. Which of the following would be the immediate appropriate treatment for this patient?

ExplanationThe patient’s history and symptoms indicate that he was suffering from hypoglycemic coma. Hypoglycemia is a serious and often life-threatening complication of diabetes management, especially in children. The major use of glucagon is for emergency treatment of severe hypoglycemic reactions when unconsciousness precludes oral feeding and intravenous glucose is not available, as in this case. The drug is usually given intramuscularly, most frequently by a patient’s family member who is trained to administer the drug. Because the action of glucagon is transient, patients should be given glucose as soon they regain consciousness.