A 78-year-old patient without polyuria, polydipsia, or polyphagia ...

[lbcchick]

A 78-year-old patient without polyuria, polydipsia, or polyphagia has a serum glucose level of 130 mg/dL. What should the nurse conclude about this patient?
 
  1. The patient might have eaten a meal with high sugar content prior to the testing.
  2. The laboratory results might be erroneous.
  3. The patient has type 1 diabetes mellitus.
  4. The patient will need to be assessed for other manifestations of diabetes.

Question 2

The nurse notes that a 41-year-old patient's fasting blood glucose level is 125 mg/dL. What should the nurse suspect is occurring with the patient?
 
  1. severe hyperglycemia
  2. consistent with diabetes
  3. normal results
  4. consistent with prediabetes

[SamMuagrove]

Answer to Question 1

Correct Answer: 4
Older adults with diabetes might not present with the classic symptoms of polyuria, polyphagia, or polydipsia. Symptoms of diabetes in older patients can include hypotension, periodontal disease, infections, and strokes. A slight elevation in serum glucose level warrants further investigation. In an adequately functioning endocrine system, dietary intake is managed by the needed amounts of insulin produced by the pancreas. There is no reason to question the laboratory results at this time. There is inadequate information to make a diagnosis of type 1 diabetes mellitus.

Answer to Question 2

Correct Answer: 4
Fasting blood glucose of 125 mg/dL is not severe hyperglycemia. If it were, the nurse would immediately notify the health care provider. This is not an indication of diabetes. A normal fasting blood glucose level is less than or equal to 100 mg/dL. Prediabetes is a fasting blood glucose level greater than 100 mg/dL and under 126 mg/dL.