A nurse is monitoring a client who is receiving a continuous intravenous regular insulin infusion for the treatment of diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA). The client's current blood glucose level is mg/dL ( mmol/L). Which laboratory finding poses the greatest risk for a physiological complication and requires immediate intervention?
- Serum potassium level of mEq/L ( mmol/L)Cevap
- BArterial blood pH of
- CSerum sodium level of mEq/L ( mmol/L)
- DBlood urea nitrogen (BUN) level of mg/dL ( mmol/L)
Cevap
The correct finding that requires immediate intervention is the serum potassium level of 3.1 mEq/L (3.1 mmol/L).
Intravenous regular insulin effectively lowers blood glucose levels by allowing glucose to enter the cells. However, a major physiological consequence of this therapy is that it actively drives potassium out of the intravascular space and into the intracellular space, rapidly depleting serum potassium levels. A serum potassium level of mEq/L indicates clinically significant hypokalemia (normal range is to mEq/L). Because severe hypokalemia places the client at an immediate risk for life-threatening cardiac dysrhythmias (such as ventricular fibrillation), the nurse must promptly intervene by alerting the provider and preparing to administer supplemental intravenous potassium to reduce the risk of a fatal complication.
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Reduction of Risk Potential: Anticipating and managing treatment-induced hypokalemia during Diabetic Ketoacidosis (DKA) management.
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