# A nurse finds a conscious client with diabetes who is diaphoretic, shaky, and has a blood glucose of 52 mg/dL. Place the following actions in the correct order.

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> url: https://mymerci.kr/pages/nclex_q.php?qn_id=620072&lang=en  
> language: en  
> subject: Adverse Effects/Contraindications/Interactions  
> category: PPT

## Question

A nurse finds a conscious client with diabetes who is diaphoretic, shaky, and has a blood glucose of 52 mg/dL. Place the following actions in the correct order.

Administer 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate.

Document the episode and client response.

Recheck blood glucose after 15 minutes.

Provide a snack containing protein and carbohydrate.

Repeat carbohydrate if glucose remains below 70 mg/dL.

## Explanation

The Rule of 15 guides hypoglycemia treatment: give 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, wait 15 minutes, and recheck glucose. If still low, repeat the carbohydrate. Once glucose is above 70 mg/dL, provide a snack with protein and carbohydrate to prevent recurrence. Documentation should include the event, treatment, and response. This sequence ensures rapid correction of hypoglycemia, reassessment, prevention of rebound, and accurate record-keeping.

## In-depth explanation

Quick answer
The Rule of 15 guides hypoglycemia treatment: give 15 grams of fast-acting carbohydrate, wait 15 minutes, and recheck glucose. If still low, repeat the carbohydrate. Once glucose is above 70 mg/dL, provide a snack with protein and carbohydrate to prevent recurrence. Documentation should include the event, treatment, and response. This sequence ensures rapid correction of hypoglycemia, reassessment, prevention of rebound, and accurate record-keeping.
Key cues
Use the client-specific assessment findings and timing in the scenario rather than a memorized diagnosis label.
Clinical reasoning
Connect the relevant cues to the safest nursing interpretation and action for this exact care setting.
Why the alternatives do not fit
The distractors are plausible in another context but are unsupported, mistimed, lower priority, or incomplete for the findings presented.
Priority and safety
Address immediate threats first, stay within nursing scope, and reassess the client after the selected intervention.
Takeaway
For conscious-client hypoglycemia treatment, select responses that are both clinically supported and appropriate at this point in care.
**Sources**
- CDC Low Blood Sugar Treatment

## Clinical scenario

A nurse finds a conscious client with diabetes who is diaphoretic, shaky, and has a blood glucose of 52 mg/dL. Place the following actions in the correct order.

## Key concepts

- **hypoglycemia** — A blood glucose level below 70 mg/dL, often causing symptoms such as shakiness, diaphoresis, and confusion.
- **Priority assessment** — Focused assessment used to identify the most urgent client need.
- **Safety intervention** — A nursing action selected to reduce immediate preventable harm.

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