Question

A 60-year-old man with type 2 diabetes on insulin is brought to the emergency department confused and sweating. Capillary blood glucose is 2.1 mmol/L. He is drowsy but protecting his airway and can swallow with prompting. What is the most appropriate initial treatment?

Accepted Answer

Give oral fast-acting carbohydrate if safe, followed by longer-acting carbohydrate

Answer

Give IV insulin

Answer

Withhold all carbohydrate until his glucose rises spontaneously

Answer

Give long-acting carbohydrate only

Answer

Discharge immediately as symptoms will resolve without treatment

Practice question

A 60-year-old man with type 2 diabetes on insulin is brought to the emergency department confused and sweating. Capillary blood glucose is 2.1 mmol/L. He is drowsy but protecting his airway and can swallow with prompting. What is the most appropriate initial treatment?