Practice Question
A nurse is teaching a school-age child who has type 1 diabetes mellitus and their parents about management during an illness. Which of the following instructions should the nurse include? (Select All that Apply.)
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
"If child is not able to eat solid foods, you can offer fluids with some carbohydrates"
Rationale:
✴️ A. Encourage sugar-containing fluids during hypoglycemia:
✔️ Children with diabetes are at risk for hypoglycemia during illness because they may have decreased appetite but continue using insulin.
✔️ If the child is unable to eat solid food, offering sugar-containing fluids like fruit juice or regular (non-diet) soda helps prevent dangerously low blood glucose levels.
✔️ The ADA recommends maintaining 15 g of simple carbs every few hours when solid intake is reduced during sick days.
✔️ This also helps prevent hypoglycemia-induced seizures or loss of consciousness in pediatric clients.
✴️ C. Encourage intake of sugar-free fluids:
✔️ Sugar-free fluids such as water, broth, or electrolyte solutions prevent dehydration, which is a common concern during illness, especially if fever or vomiting is present.
✔️ Keeping hydrated also supports kidney function and helps flush out excess ketones in the urine.
✔️ It’s important to balance hydration with the need to avoid excessive blood sugar fluctuations.
✔️ This is part of general sick-day management in children with type 1 diabetes.
✴️ E. Test the urine for ketones:
✔️ Ketone testing is critical when a diabetic child is ill, has a fever, or has blood glucose >240 mg/dL, as this may indicate the onset of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA).
✔️ Ketones in the urine suggest the body is breaking down fat for energy due to insufficient insulin or inadequate glucose availability.
✔️ Early identification of ketonuria allows for prompt intervention and helps prevent progression to life-threatening DKA.
✔️ This is a routine part of pediatric sick-day protocols in diabetes management.
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This question is from RN ATI Nur 2708 Pediatrics Final Exam which contains 51 questions.
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Question Details
- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN ATI Pediatrics
- Answer Choices: 6