Severe hypoglycemia
NCLEX-RN glossary · Physiological Adaptation
Definition
A blood glucose level low enough to cause neurological impairment and risk of seizures or coma. It is an immediate physiological priority because the brain requires a constant glucose supply.
Severe hypoglycemia in plain English
Failure to rapidly correct hypoglycemia leads to irreversible neurological damage and death. A frequent error is waiting for a formal laboratory result before treating a symptomatic client who has a critically low bedside glucose reading.
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