Question

A 67-year-old man with type 2 diabetes on basal insulin glargine feels sweaty, shaky and light-headed at home. His capillary blood glucose is 3.1 mmol/L. He is alert, oriented and able to swallow. What is the most appropriate immediate action he should take?

Accepted Answer

Consume 15 g of fast-acting carbohydrate (e.g., 175 mL fruit juice), then recheck glucose in 15 minutes

Answer

Inject intramuscular Adrenaline using an auto-injector

Answer

Call 911 and wait without eating until paramedics arrive

Answer

Administer an extra dose of insulin to "stabilise" his sugar

Answer

Go directly to the emergency department for intravenous dextrose without taking anything by mouth

Practice question

A 67-year-old man with type 2 diabetes on basal insulin glargine feels sweaty, shaky and light-headed at home. His capillary blood glucose is 3.1 mmol/L. He is alert, oriented and able to swallow. What is the most appropriate immediate action he should take?