Reference no: EM131664650
Joe is becoming more confused and uncoordinated. When he tries to get up to leave the examination room, he stumbles and falls down. He is semiconscious and breathing even more heavily. One of the aides says he needs some orange juice, right away.
"That's just the wrong thing to do," the doctor answers. "Don't you see his heavy breathing and smell the ketones on his breath? Give him the insulin, stat!"
Who is right? Choose the best answer.
A. They are both wrong, because insulin and sugar have nothing to do with ketoacidosis.
B. The doctor is right - Joe's plasma glucose is elevated, so he cannot have hypoglycemia.
C. The aide is right. Hypoglycemia could kill Joe. He needs some sugar right away.
D. Either of them could be right, because both hypoglycemia and ketoacidosis can happen in diabetics.