1. You have been called for a 32-year-old female patient with altered mental status. On scene, you find the patient lethargic and confused. Although information is sketchy, it appears that she has a history of diabetes as well as renal failure for which she receives dialysis. You note no deficits in the primary assessment and the vital signs are pulse, 124; respirations, 28 breaths/min; blood pressure, 106/68 mmHg; and SpO2, 97%. Your partner reports a blood sugar reading of 774 mg/dL. Based on this information, the EMT would understand that definitive care of this patient would involve the administration of which medication at the hospital?

2. You are assisting a paramedic who is administering glucagon to a patient. Based on your understanding of how glucagon works in the human body, what is the therapeutic goal of this treatment?

3. The EMT would recognize dehydration as a concern in a patient with diabetes owing to:

4. An unresponsive patient presents with a blood sugar of 30 mg/dL. What is the major threat to this patient's well-being?

5. Altered mental status resulting from a hypoglycemic episode in a patient with diabetes typically:

6. Which of these statements made by an EMT indicates a correct understanding of glucose in the human body?

7. Which of these patients has a normal fasting glucose level?

8. You are reviewing prehospital care reports and notice that a patient with low blood sugar and no contraindications to oral glucose did not receive the medication. You recognize that this inaction placed the patient at risk for which condition?

9. What would be the priority action to take prior to administering oral glucose to a young female patient?

10. In which form is oral glucose packaged?

11. A glucometer is a tool the EMT can use to measure:

12. A patient informs you that she takes Januvia pills for her diabetes. Which of these statements about this patient and her diabetes is true?

13. You are transporting a patient with diabetes who has low blood sugar. En route, you receive orders to administer oral glucose. Which piece of emergency equipment is most important to have readily available during this procedure?

14. A glucometer reads 50 mg/dL. The EMT would recognize this reading as:

15. You suspect that an unresponsive female patient may be diabetic. To help confirm this suspicion, where would you send your partner to look for vials of insulin?

16. You know an EMT is correctly using a glucometer when she performs which procedural step?

17. You have been called to a residence for a patient with altered mental status. On arrival, a neighbor informs you that he saw the patient washing windows several minutes earlier and then suddenly saw him lying on the ground. He also mentions that the patient has diabetes and has been in and out of the hospital lately because his blood sugar has been dropping suddenly. Your scene size-up reveals the patient to be lying next to a ladder propped up to the second-story window. Water from a bucket is spilled on the side of the house and yard. The patient is supine and unresponsive. What should be your next most immediate action?

18. A patient with diabetes is alert but confused. You have decided to administer oral glucose. Which of these descriptions indicates the proper way to administer the glucose?

19. What is the primary reason to administer oral glucose to a patient?

20. After you administer oral glucose to a patient with diabetes, his level of conscious deteriorates and he becomes unresponsive with snoring respirations. Which action should you take immediately?

21. The insulin level in a patient with undiagnosed diabetes is elevated, and the cellular receptors for the insulin are not sensitive (to the insulin). You would anticipate which finding when caring for this patient?

22. When administering oral glucose to a patient with diabetes, the EMT must take precautions to prevent which adverse effect?

23. Long-term complications of diabetes commonly include:

24. Medical direction has ordered you to administer one dose of oral glucose to a patient with diabetes who is exhibiting confusion. Which of these best describes what you should do?

25. You have been called for an adult male patient who is hypoglycemic and responsive to painful stimuli. The family has oral glucose and wants you to administer it. However, at this time, your medical director has not authorized this agent's use and there are no protocols regarding its use. Given the patient's condition and the family's request, which action should you take?