Which is a contraindication to oral glucose?

Which is a contraindication to oral glucose?

• A. Unconscious
• B. Both
• C. Cannot swallow
• D. If patient has high blood sugar

Answer: (B)

Oral glucose is given only when the patient can protect the airway and swallow safely. If someone is unconscious, there’s a real risk they could aspirate the glucose into the lungs, and if they cannot swallow, they can’t keep the glucose from entering the airway. In both of those scenarios, giving oral glucose is contraindicated, so you’d use alternate treatments such as IV dextrose or glucagon per protocol. A high blood glucose reading isn’t a contraindication to oral glucose in the same way; it simply means glucose administration isn’t indicated because the problem isn’t hypoglycemia. So the correct concept is that both being unconscious and being unable to swallow prevent safe oral glucose administration.

Oral glucose is given only when the patient can protect the airway and swallow safely. If someone is unconscious, there’s a real risk they could aspirate the glucose into the lungs, and if they cannot swallow, they can’t keep the glucose from entering the airway. In both of those scenarios, giving oral glucose is contraindicated, so you’d use alternate treatments such as IV dextrose or glucagon per protocol. A high blood glucose reading isn’t a contraindication to oral glucose in the same way; it simply means glucose administration isn’t indicated because the problem isn’t hypoglycemia. So the correct concept is that both being unconscious and being unable to swallow prevent safe oral glucose administration.