A client with type 1 diabetes is awake, can swallow, and reports shakiness. The point-of-care glucose is 52 mg/dL. Which action should the nurse take?
1Keep the client NPO while waiting for the provider to evaluate the client.
2Administer the prescribed long-acting insulin and provide the client's meal tray.
3Give 15 g of rapid-acting carbohydrate and recheck glucose in 15 minutes.✓ Correct answer
4Give glucagon by intramuscular injection as the first intervention.
Explanation
The client has symptomatic hypoglycemia and is awake and able to swallow, so oral rapid-acting carbohydrate is indicated. The 15-15 approach gives 15 g carbohydrate and rechecks glucose after 15 minutes. Glucagon is reserved for severe hypoglycemia when the client cannot safely take oral carbohydrate.