A nurse is assessing a pregnant woman who has gestational diabetes for possible complications.
The nurse should monitor the woman for which of the following signs and symptoms?
Polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia
Hypotension, bradycardia, and bradypnea
Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Headache, blurred vision, and drowsiness.
The Correct Answer is A
The correct answer is
A. Polyuria, polydipsia, and polyphagia.
These are the classic signs and symptoms of diabetes, which occur due to high blood sugar levels. Gestational diabetes is a type of diabetes that develops during pregnancy and can affect the health of the mother and the baby.
B. Hypotension, bradycardia, and bradypnea.
Statement is wrong because these are signs of low blood pressure, low heart rate, and low breathing rate, which are not related to gestational diabetes.
C. Nausea, vomiting, and abdominal pain.
Statement is wrong because these are signs of ketoacidosis, a serious complication of diabetes that occurs when the body breaks down fat for energy and produces ketones. Ketoacidosis is rare in gestational diabetes and usually affects people with type 1 diabetes.
D. Headache, blurred vision, and drowsiness.
Statement is wrong because these are signs of hyperglycemia (high blood sugar) or hypertensive disorders (high blood pressure), which can occur in gestational diabetes but are not specific to it. They can also be caused by other conditions such as dehydration, infection, or preeclampsia.
Normal ranges for blood sugar levels during pregnancy are:
• Before meals: 3.5 to 5.9 mmol/L (63 to 106 mg/dL)
• One hour after meals: 7.8 mmol/L (140 mg/dL) or less
• Two hours after meals: 6.4 mmol/L (115 mg/dL) or less
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is choice A. One hour.The nurse should check the newborn’s blood glucose level within one hour after birth because infants born to mothers with gestational diabetes are at risk of hypoglycemia due to hyperinsulinemia.Hypoglycemia can cause neurologic damage or death if left untreated.
Choice B is wrong because two hours is too long to wait for checking the blood glucose level of a newborn at risk of hypoglycemia.
Choice C is wrong because three hours is too long to wait for checking the blood glucose level of a newborn at risk of hypoglycemia.
Choice D is wrong because four hours is too long to wait for checking the blood glucose level of a newborn at risk of hypoglycemia.
Normal blood glucose levels for newborns are between 47 and 70 mg/dL.Mild hypoglycemia is defined as less than 47 mg/dL and severe hypoglycemia is defined as less than 36 mg/dL.
Correct Answer is A
Explanation
The correct answer is choice D. Previous history of gestational diabetes.This is because having gestational diabetes in a previous pregnancy increases the risk of developing it again in a subsequent pregnancy.According to the CDC, about 50% of women with gestational diabetes go on to develop type 2 diabetes later in life.
Choice A is wrong because advanced maternal age is not a primary risk factor for gestational diabetes, although it may increase the risk slightly.
Choice B is wrong because family history of diabetes is not a primary risk factor for gestational diabetes, although it may indicate a genetic predisposition to insulin resistance.
Choice C is wrong because smoking during pregnancy is not a primary risk factor for gestational diabetes, although it may have other adverse effects on the mother and the baby.
Some of the other risk factors for gestational diabetes include obesity, hormonal changes, polycystic ovary syndrome, and pregnancy over 30 years of age.Gestational diabetes can cause complications such as high blood pressure, preeclampsia, large birth weight, premature delivery, respiratory distress syndrome, and low blood sugar in the baby.Gestational diabetes can be managed with a healthy diet, exercise, and medication if needed.
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