In the early 1920s, diabetes mellitus was a fatal disease with no effective treatment. Patients, often children, faced a rapid decline due to uncontrolled blood sugar levels. In 1921, Dr. Frederick Banting and medical student Charles Best, under the supervision of Professor John Macleod at the University of Toronto, made a groundbreaking discovery. They isolated insulin from the pancreas of dogs and successfully administered it to diabetic dogs, reducing their blood glucose levels. This monumental achievement led to the first successful treatment of a human patient with insulin in 1922, transforming diabetes from a death sentence to a manageable condition.
Question: Endocrine System
A 10-year-old child with newly diagnosed type 1 diabetes mellitus is admitted for insulin therapy initiation. The nurse is educating the child and their parents about insulin administration. Which statement by the parents indicates a need for further teaching?
A) “We will rotate injection sites to prevent tissue damage.”
B) “We should administer the insulin at the same time every day, regardless of meals.”
C) “We will monitor blood glucose levels before each meal and at bedtime.”
D) “If our child is sick and not eating, we should still give the prescribed insulin dose.”
Answer: B
Rationale: Insulin administration should be coordinated with meal times to manage blood glucose levels effectively. Administering insulin at the same time every day without regard to meals can lead to hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Therefore, option B indicates a need for further teaching.
Bliss, M. (1982). The Discovery of Insulin. University of Chicago Press. https://press.uchicago.edu/ucp/books/book/chicago/D/bo5388816.html