Question

If an individual who had been given insulin (eg a patient with diabetes), did not then remember to eat the meal that should have accompanied the insulin injection, what would be the consequence? Hypoglycemia Metabolic acidosis Hyperglycemia Metabolic alkalosis

Answer 1

Option A hypoglycemia is correct because

Other than glucose other food needs more than an hour to reach blood stream. So, what is the benefit of taking insulin before meal, rather some time it can cause serious hypoglycemia if patient miss to take meal after insulin dose.

Hyperglycemia has no immediate bad effect but hypoglycemia can cause death immediately. So, insulin should not be given before meal or breakfast . For prevention of insulin induced hypoglycemia it should be given after meal or breakfast. The dose will be adjusted according to the previous status and amount of the food taken. Some time patient may forget to take meal or refuse to take meal after taking insulin. In these cases serious hypoglycemia can cause death. Pt may be on diarrhoea or anorexic due to viral fever or other causes. Some time pt. may vomit after eating. In these cases pt will suffer serious hypoglycemia particularly during night when immediate glucose infusion will be difficult due to availability of medical person. Physician should advice to consider these situations to their patient on insulin therapy .