A nurse is caring for a child with DKA who is experiencing cerebral edema.
The child is lethargic and has a headache.
The nurse assesses the child's vital signs and finds that the blood pressure is elevated and the respiratory rate is slow.
Which of the following interventions should the nurse take first?

Choice A rationale:

This statement accurately describes the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus in children.

Insufficient insulin results in elevated blood glucose levels, leading to the characteristic symptoms of diabetes.

In type 1 diabetes, there is a lack of insulin due to the destruction of insulin-producing beta cells by the immune system.

Choice B rationale:

This statement incorrectly suggests that there is a combination of insulin resistance and impaired insulin secretion in type 1 diabetes.

In reality, type 1 diabetes is characterized by a lack of insulin production due to the destruction of beta cells by the immune system.

Choice C rationale:

This statement inaccurately states that in type 2 diabetes, the immune system mistakenly attacks and destroys the insulin-producing beta cells in the pancreas.

This description is more aligned with type 1 diabetes, not type 2 diabetes.

Choice D rationale:

This statement falsely claims that certain viral infections and dietary factors are the sole causes of diabetes in children.

While these factors can contribute to the development of diabetes, they are not the sole causes, and this oversimplification doesn't accurately represent the pathophysiology of diabetes mellitus in children.

Dehydration.

Choice A rationale:

Hypovolemia Hypovolemia refers to a decreased blood volume and can lead to decreased urine output.

However, in the context of a patient with suspected DKA, the primary concern is dehydration due to excessive loss of fluids and electrolytes through polyuria (excessive urination) and osmotic diuresis.

This leads to dehydration rather than hypovolemia.

Choice B rationale:

Hyperglycemia Hyperglycemia is a characteristic feature of DKA, but it doesn't directly cause decreased urine output.

In fact, hyperglycemia often leads to increased urine output due to the osmotic diuresis caused by high blood glucose levels.

Choice D rationale:

Prolonged capillary refill time Prolonged capillary refill time is a sign of poor perfusion and can be associated with hypovolemia.

However, it is not the primary concern in a patient with suspected DKA who is experiencing dehydration.

The decreased urine output is primarily due to the loss of fluids and electrolytes from hyperglycemia and osmotic diuresis.

Now, let's move on to the next question.