What is the first action to take when a patient has a blood sugar of 300 mg/dl?

What is the first action to take when a patient has a blood sugar of 300 mg/dl?

• A. Administer insulin
• B. Report to Physician
• C. Call family
• D. Check blood pressure

Answer: (B)

When blood sugar is as high as 300 mg/dL, the priority is to alert the supervising clinician. This level signals the need for medical evaluation to determine the cause and appropriate treatment, such as fluids, labs, or insulin, which must be ordered by a physician. Administering insulin without an order isn’t appropriate, and calling family or checking blood pressure don’t address the immediate clinical action needed. Reporting the reading and the patient’s status allows the clinician to decide the next steps and orders.

When blood sugar is as high as 300 mg/dL, the priority is to alert the supervising clinician. This level signals the need for medical evaluation to determine the cause and appropriate treatment, such as fluids, labs, or insulin, which must be ordered by a physician. Administering insulin without an order isn’t appropriate, and calling family or checking blood pressure don’t address the immediate clinical action needed. Reporting the reading and the patient’s status allows the clinician to decide the next steps and orders.