A 19-year-old diabetic female is unresponsive after drinking a large amount of alcohol and trying some pills that her friend provided. She has snoring respirations and an intact radial pulse. Emergency Medical Responders are maintaining her airway with a head-tilt, chin-lift maneuver. Vital signs are: pulse 116, respirations 14, and SpO2 93. Advanced life support has been contacted for assistance. Your next action would be to:
A) administer oxygen through positive pressure ventilation.
B) identify the pills that she took.
C) attempt to contact the parents for permission to treat.
D) determine the patient's blood glucose level.
Question 2
Which of the following is the most reliable way to differentiate between a hyperglycemic emergency and a hypoglycemic emergency?
A) Determine whether or not the patient took his insulin or oral antihyperglycemic medicines.
B) Determine whether the patient is a type I or type II diabetic.
C) Follow the conventional wisdom, Pale, cool, wet: low; red, hot, dry: high.
D) Assess the blood glucose level.