Nursing BGL Case Study 2022

Running head: NURSING
Nursing
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

1NURSING
Answer 1
The random capillary blood glucose level (BGL) of Sarah was 25.0 mmol/L
and in emergency department it was 1.6 mmol/L. According to Kleinridders, Ferris,
Cai and Kahn (2014) children who are over 2 years of the age the normal BGL is 6.1
mmol/L (measured at any point of time with no regard of food intake). Sarah has
been prescribed to take insulin because Sarah is suffering from type 1 diabetes.
Under this condition, the islet of Langerhans in the pancreas fails to produce
required insulin in order to manage the blood glucose. The externally injected insulin
helps to reduce the blood glucose level by signalling the liver and the muscle cells to
take up glucose from the blood. The insulin injected subcutaneously (fat layer
between skin and muscles) promotes slow absorption of insulin in blood and
promoting longer action of insulin. The subcutaneous injection is also less painful.
The injection of Novorapid insulin further increases the half life of insulin as it is long-
acting analogue of insulin (Iqbal, Novodvorsky & Heller, 2018).
Answer 2
a. The onset of action of NovoRapid insulin occurs within 10 to 20 minutes
after the subcutaneous administration. The peak action of insulin is exerted within 1
to 3 hours post the time of injection. The total duration of action of NovoRapid once
administered within the body is 3 to 5 hours (Galbraith, Bullock & Manias, 2017).
b. NovoRapid has faster degree of onset and shorter duration of action in
compariosn to the soluble insulin produced in human body. It is 30 times faster in
compariosn to the biphasic human insulin. Due to its faster onset of action, the
NovoRapid insulin is administered immediately before the intake of meal or when

2NURSING
necessary like immediately after the intake of meal (Galbraith, Bullock & Manias,
2017).
Answer 3
a. Hypoglycemia is defined as a condition where the blood glucose level falls
below normal (International Hypoglycaemia Study Group, 2015).
b. In case of patients suffering from type 1 diabetes mellitus, hypoglycemia
can occur when the patient is under subcutaneous insulin injection and also
performs high intensity physical activity simultaneously. Like in case of Sarah, intake
of NovoRapid (three times per day) along with taking swimming lessons and dance
classes might lead to generation of hypoglycemia. Insulin over-dose in glycemic
patients can also cause diabetes (International Hypoglycaemia Study Group, 2015).
c. The main symptoms of hypoglycemia include shakiness, dizziness, profuse
sweating, nervousness, anxiety and in extreme cases, it might lead to numbness of
hand and feet, sudden drop in body temperature and loss of consciousness
(International Hypoglycaemia Study Group, 2015).
d. The immediate and best treatment for hypoglcemia include consumption of
at least 15 to 20 grams of fast action carbohydrate like sugar or fruit juice in order to
restore the glucose balance in body (International Hypoglycaemia Study Group,
2015).
Answer 4
a. Bergenstal et al. (2015) stated that shorter needles ensure lower degree of
pain upon injection. The length of the needle varies with age and the dosage of