exitandleave
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Hey everyone.
Did a quick search but couldn't find any information regarding this.
I've been a medic for a year and been in EMS for 4 years.
I recently had a call for altered mental status. Find the pt to be AOx2, just slightly confused and a little slow to answer complex questions. Airway patent with adequate respiration. Slightly diaphoretic. No distress. During our assessment we find she's a known diabetic who may have missed dinner. BGL of 52.
Our protocol states that medics treat a BGL of less than 60. The protocol leaves it up to the discretion of the medic whether to treat with D50 or oral glucose. I suggested we give oral glucose. My supervisor advised me this was a mistake because oral glucose takes too long to be absorbed and become effective, especially since we have D50 readily available.
Would you have treated this patient with oral glucose or D50? I'm not a lazy medic who would rather not have to go through the hassle of establishing an IV, replacing a drug box, etc. But I don't find it necessary to be over zealous in treating a stable patient like this.
Also, does anyone have any information from personal experience or reading as to how quickly oral glucose is absorbed? I know d50 is quicker, but I recall a similar situation where I gave two tubes of oral glucose and signed the patient of 15 minutes later.
Thanks for your input/advise/criticism.
Did a quick search but couldn't find any information regarding this.
I've been a medic for a year and been in EMS for 4 years.
I recently had a call for altered mental status. Find the pt to be AOx2, just slightly confused and a little slow to answer complex questions. Airway patent with adequate respiration. Slightly diaphoretic. No distress. During our assessment we find she's a known diabetic who may have missed dinner. BGL of 52.
Our protocol states that medics treat a BGL of less than 60. The protocol leaves it up to the discretion of the medic whether to treat with D50 or oral glucose. I suggested we give oral glucose. My supervisor advised me this was a mistake because oral glucose takes too long to be absorbed and become effective, especially since we have D50 readily available.
Would you have treated this patient with oral glucose or D50? I'm not a lazy medic who would rather not have to go through the hassle of establishing an IV, replacing a drug box, etc. But I don't find it necessary to be over zealous in treating a stable patient like this.
Also, does anyone have any information from personal experience or reading as to how quickly oral glucose is absorbed? I know d50 is quicker, but I recall a similar situation where I gave two tubes of oral glucose and signed the patient of 15 minutes later.
Thanks for your input/advise/criticism.