Before administering a scheduled dose of insulin to a 10-year-old child who is learning diabetic self-care, which information is most important for the practical nurse (PN) to ask the child?

Hypoglycemia occurs when blood glucose levels drop below normal levels. It is commonly associated with diabetes mellitus and can result from various factors such as excessive insulin or oral hypoglycemic medication, delayed or missed meals, increased physical activity, or alcohol consumption.
Tremors, or shaking hands, are one of the early signs of hypoglycemia. They can occur due to the brain's response to low blood glucose levels. Other early signs of hypoglycemia may include sweating, palpitations, anxiety, hunger, and weakness.
A. Polyuria, or excessive urination, is not typically associated with hypoglycemia. It is more commonly seen in conditions such as hyperglycemia or diabetes insipidus.
C. Bradycardia, or a slow heart rate, is not a characteristic sign of hypoglycemia. It can occur in some cases of severe hypoglycemia, but it is not an early sign.
D. Difficulty swallowing is not directly related to hypoglycemia. It may be caused by other factors such as neurological or muscular conditions, esophageal disorders, or structural abnormalities in the throat or esophagus.

The client's question about whether the surgical opening will be visible suggests that they have concerns or misconceptions about the upcoming fecal diversion surgery. By reviewing the client's expectations of elimination after surgery, the PN can provide accurate information and address any anxieties or concerns the client may have.

The other options are not directly related to the client's question and are not the most appropriate actions to take in this situation:
A. Determining if this is the client's first indwelling catheter is unrelated to the client's question about the visibility of the surgical opening. It may be important to assess the client's history of urinary catheter use for other purposes, but it does not address the client's immediate concern.
B. Asking the client if they finished the bowel sterilization prescription is also unrelated to the visibility of the surgical opening. While bowel sterilization may be a part of the preoperative preparation for fecal diversion surgery, it does not address the client's questions and concerns.
D. Verifying that the client had nothing by mouth (NPO) for the past 24 hours is important for general preoperative care but does not address the client's specific question about the visibility of the surgical opening.