Problem:
Rose is a 45-year-old patient who was diagnosed with diabetes 2 years ago. Dr. Fisher recently placed her on treatment insulin once per day. Rose was brought to Dr. Fisher's practice by her 20-year-old son after he found her looking pale, sweating, and shaking while she was gardening. He had gone out to run some errands in the morning and believes he had seen his mother inject herself with insulin before leaving. When she arrives at the medical office, her son clarifies that she does not have an appointment and explains his reason for coming. Rose is an established patient, and Franny, the medical assistant, has her come to an examination room and notices that she is indeed pale, shaking, profusely sweating, and that she is confused. The medical assistant asks if she had breakfasted this morning; the patient mumbles her reply, making it difficult to understand what she is saying. The medical assistant proceeds to take her vitals, and it catches her attention that the patient has tachycardia (fast heart rate). Franny notifies the physician immediately. Dr. Fisher instructs the medical assistant to measure blood glucose with the glucose-meter. Franny washes her hands, puts gloves on and diligently brings out the device, strips, lancets, alcohol pad, and gauze. She takes a capillary sample from one of Rose's fingers. The device marks errors. Dr. Fisher then asks Franny to prepare for a phlebotomy. He also instructs her to draw blood and request a glucose test from the POL. He then directs Franny to give the patient 3 chewable tablets of glucose. Minutes after the administration of the tablets, Rose looks better and is not sweating or shaking. Moreover, she can communicate. About 30 minutes later, the lab results arrived. Rose's glucose levels are 45 mg/dl.
Answer the following questions:
How was Rose's glucose level according to the lab results and why did Dr. Fisher not wait for the results before deciding to treat her with glucose tablets without knowing if her blood glucose was high or low? Need Assignment Help?
What do you believe happened to Rose and what action could her son have taken at home?