L
E
ENDOCRINE DISORDERS NOTES
2025
Hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia – blood glucose levels suddenly drop or fall below 70 mg/dl.
Causes
- Insulin dose is too high for food eaten
- Insulin injection into muscle
- Too much exercise for insulin dose
- Too long between meals and snacks
- Too few carbs eaten
- Illness, stress
Signs
- Rapid onset, sudden
& - Irritable, nervous, tremors, shaky feeling
- Difficulty concentrating or speaking (repeating)
- Behavior change, confusion
- Unconsciousness, shallow breathing
- Tachycardia, pallor, and sweating
- Seizures
- Moist mucus membranes, hunger
- Headache, dizziness, blurred vision, double vision, photophobia - Numb lips or
mouth
Clinical Therapy
- If conscious – give 15 g of carbohydrates, wait 15 mins and recheck blood glucose. If
under 70 mg/dl, give another 15 g of carbohydrates. Wait another 15 mins, and recheck. •
Hyperglycemia ½ cup of fruit juice, ½ cup of soda, 1 small box of raisons, 3-4 glucose tablets When
the blood sugar has returned to at least 80mg/dl, give a more substantial snack such as
cheese and crackers if the next meal is more than 30 mins later.
- If unconscious – give glucagon by injection. Glucagon is a hormone produced by the
pancreas that helps to release stored glucose from the liver, thus ↑ blood glucose. If
unavailable, administer sugar gel or glucose paste squeezed onto the gums. In a hospital
setting, administer IV dextrose. Additional snacks or a meal is provided.
Hyperglycemia
Causes
- Insulin is too low for food eaten
- Illness, injury, stress
- Too many carbs eaten
- Meals and snacks too close together
- Insulin injected just under the skin or injected into hypertrophied areas - ↓ activity
Signs
- Gradual onset
- Lethargy, sleepiness, slowed responses, confusion
1
Downloaded by NELSON KIIRU ()
, lOMoARcPSD|26582732
1 Alterations in Endocrine Function
8
- Deep, rapid breathing
- Flushed and dry skin
- Dry mucus membranes, thirsty, hungry, dehydrated
- Weakness, fatigue
- Headache, abdominal pain, N&V
- Blurred vision
- Shock
Clinical Therapy
- Additional insulin
- Give correction scale insulin doses for specific blood glucose
levels when ill or injured
- Extra injections if hyperglycemia and moderate to large ketones
- Increase fluids
2
Downloaded by NELSON KIIRU ()
E
ENDOCRINE DISORDERS NOTES
2025
Hypoglycemia Hypoglycemia – blood glucose levels suddenly drop or fall below 70 mg/dl.
Causes
- Insulin dose is too high for food eaten
- Insulin injection into muscle
- Too much exercise for insulin dose
- Too long between meals and snacks
- Too few carbs eaten
- Illness, stress
Signs
- Rapid onset, sudden
& - Irritable, nervous, tremors, shaky feeling
- Difficulty concentrating or speaking (repeating)
- Behavior change, confusion
- Unconsciousness, shallow breathing
- Tachycardia, pallor, and sweating
- Seizures
- Moist mucus membranes, hunger
- Headache, dizziness, blurred vision, double vision, photophobia - Numb lips or
mouth
Clinical Therapy
- If conscious – give 15 g of carbohydrates, wait 15 mins and recheck blood glucose. If
under 70 mg/dl, give another 15 g of carbohydrates. Wait another 15 mins, and recheck. •
Hyperglycemia ½ cup of fruit juice, ½ cup of soda, 1 small box of raisons, 3-4 glucose tablets When
the blood sugar has returned to at least 80mg/dl, give a more substantial snack such as
cheese and crackers if the next meal is more than 30 mins later.
- If unconscious – give glucagon by injection. Glucagon is a hormone produced by the
pancreas that helps to release stored glucose from the liver, thus ↑ blood glucose. If
unavailable, administer sugar gel or glucose paste squeezed onto the gums. In a hospital
setting, administer IV dextrose. Additional snacks or a meal is provided.
Hyperglycemia
Causes
- Insulin is too low for food eaten
- Illness, injury, stress
- Too many carbs eaten
- Meals and snacks too close together
- Insulin injected just under the skin or injected into hypertrophied areas - ↓ activity
Signs
- Gradual onset
- Lethargy, sleepiness, slowed responses, confusion
1
Downloaded by NELSON KIIRU ()
, lOMoARcPSD|26582732
1 Alterations in Endocrine Function
8
- Deep, rapid breathing
- Flushed and dry skin
- Dry mucus membranes, thirsty, hungry, dehydrated
- Weakness, fatigue
- Headache, abdominal pain, N&V
- Blurred vision
- Shock
Clinical Therapy
- Additional insulin
- Give correction scale insulin doses for specific blood glucose
levels when ill or injured
- Extra injections if hyperglycemia and moderate to large ketones
- Increase fluids
2
Downloaded by NELSON KIIRU ()
