In a glycemic emergency, which assessment should be performed?

• A. Blood Pressure
• B. Blood Glucose Level
• C. Temperature
• D. Heart rate

Answer: (B)

In a glycemic emergency, the most important thing to measure first is the blood glucose level. Knowing the exact glucose value tells you whether the problem is hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia and directly guides treatment decisions, such as giving fast-acting glucose if the reading is low or avoiding glucose administration if the reading is high. Other vitals like blood pressure, temperature, and heart rate can be affected by the stress of the situation but don’t identify the underlying glycemic problem. A quick bedside glucose check is the essential step to determine the appropriate next action.