Critical Care Paramedic Practice Exam

The critical consideration when treating hyperglycemia is balancing the need for glucose reduction with the risk of complications that can arise from reducing glucose levels too quickly. Lowering glucose too fast can lead to a condition known as hypoglycemia, which can be dangerous and cause adverse effects such as seizures, loss of consciousness, or even death.

In patients with diabetes or conditions that lead to high blood sugar, it is advisable to aim for a gradual reduction of glucose levels. The recommendation to not lower glucose more than 100 mg/dL per hour is based on clinical guidelines that emphasize patient safety and a careful approach to managing blood sugar. This rate allows time for the body to adjust and helps prevent complications associated with rapid changes in glucose levels.

In contrast, other approaches or options that suggest significantly higher target reductions in glucose per hour risk increasing the likelihood of adverse events. Therefore, the best practice is to adhere to this recommendation of a maximum reduction of 100 mg/dL per hour to ensure patient safety and effective management of hyperglycemia.