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Hypoglycaemia — DipIMC MCQ

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EasyMedical EmergenciesHypoglycaemiaDipIMC

A 57-year-old diabetic is confused and sweating in a parked car. Capillary glucose is 2.1 mmol/L and he can swallow safely. What is the most appropriate immediate action?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: DGive oral glucose and reassess capillary glucose

Explanation lettering: B = shown as A · C = shown as B · D = shown as C · A = shown as D

A is correct: Conscious hypoglycaemia with a safe swallow is treated with fast-acting oral carbohydrate and reassessment. B is less suitable because analgesia is important but does not replace the first physiological intervention; C is less suitable because a detailed survey is inappropriate before correcting an immediate threat; D is less suitable because it does not address the discriminator in the vignette; E is less suitable because it creates avoidable delay in a time-critical presentation. The most tempting alternative is therefore suboptimal because it either delays the time-critical pre-hospital intervention or sends the patient to the wrong level of care. The key DipIMC principle is focused cABCDE decision-making with early pre-alert, triage or retrieval escalation when the scene physiology demands it.

Reference: JRCALC Guidelines; Resuscitation Council UK; NICE guidance where applicable