Question

A 60-year-old man with long-standing type 2 diabetes is found on the ward with a capillary blood glucose of 2.3 mmol/L. He is drowsy but rousable and can swallow safely. What is the most appropriate immediate treatment?

Accepted Answer

Give 20 g of fast-acting oral carbohydrate such as glucose tablets or sugary drink

Answer

Give 10 units of rapid-acting insulin subcutaneously

Answer

Observe him and repeat capillary glucose in 30 minutes

Answer

Start an intravenous insulin infusion

Answer

Restrict carbohydrate intake until levels normalise

Practice question

A 60-year-old man with long-standing type 2 diabetes is found on the ward with a capillary blood glucose of 2.3 mmol/L. He is drowsy but rousable and can swallow safely. What is the most appropriate immediate treatment?