Hypoglycemia
Structured condition card with NCLEX priority cues and nursing action focus.
Endocrinehigh priorityneeds review
Hypoglycemia
Etiology / Pathophysiology
- Too much insulin/medication, missed meal, exercise, alcohol, or illness.
- Low glucose deprives brain and sympathetic system triggers warning signs.
Medications
| Class | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Insulins | Main medication context; glucose/glucagon are rescue treatments. |
Nursing actions
- Assess glucose immediately for sweating, shakiness, confusion, or seizure.
- Give fast-acting carbohydrate if awake and able to swallow.
- Use glucagon or IV dextrose per protocol if unable to swallow.
Complications
- Seizures
- Brain injury
- Falls
- Coma
NCLEX cues
- Cold, clammy, shaky.
- Treat first if symptomatic and glucose is low.
Memory hooks
- Low sugar is now danger.
Labs / Diagnostics
- Trend assessment findings and ordered diagnostics; verify exact values with school source material.
Review notes
- Session-derived study seed. Verify against school materials, ATI/NCLEX review sources, current orders, and facility policy before relying on details.