A patient with type 1 diabetes is admitted to the emergency ...

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A patient with type 1 diabetes is admitted to the emergency department with a blood pressure of 201/108. The patient is given diazoxide (Hyperstat IV). The nurse should monitor the patient for
 
  a. hypoglycemia.
  b. ketoacidosis.
  c. hyponatremia.
  d. hyperglycemia.

Question 2

A patient taking a vasodilator complains of dizziness when getting out of bed to go to the bathroom. The nurse should advise the patient to do which of the following to try to prevent orthostatic hypotension?
 
  a. Drink two glasses of water just prior to changing positions to get out of bed or stand up to walk.
  b. Avoid abrupt position changes by slowly moving into another position.
  c. Ask for the bedpan to avoid having to get out of bed.
  d. Rapidly transition to the sitting position in the bed and then dangle the feet to improve circulation prior to walking to the bathroom.

[cam1229]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
Hyperglycemia is a possible adverse effect of diazoxide that results from the suppression of insulin.
Diazoxide suppresses the release of insulin in patients with diabetes so that the blood sugar will rise, not decrease.
Ketoacidosis is not caused by diazoxide.
Hypernatremia, not hyponatremia, is an adverse effect of diazoxide.

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
The patient should avoid abrupt transitions from a supine or seated position to an upright position so that postural hypotension does not occur.
Drinking two glasses of water just prior to ambulating will not help prevent dizziness and may lead to worsening heart failure if the patient has this problem or is unable to urinate in the toilet.
Using the bedpan can cause unnecessary, prolonged immobility and potentiates the possibility of clots.
A rapid transition of the body from the supine position into the sitting position will cause orthostatic hypotension.

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