What long-term treatment should be administered to prevent withdrawal symptoms in chronic alcoholics?

A. All complementary and alternative therapies are safe to use along with insulin.: Not all complementary or alternative therapies are safe for patients taking insulin. Some may affect blood glucose levels or interact with insulin, potentially causing hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. Patients should always discuss any supplements with their healthcare provider.

B. Wash your hands prior to insulin administration.: Proper hand hygiene reduces the risk of infection at the injection site and prevents contamination of the insulin vial or syringe. This is a key safety practice in self-administration of insulin.

C. Unopened insulin vials should be stored in the refrigerator.: Storing unopened insulin in the refrigerator preserves its potency until the expiration date. Exposure to heat or direct sunlight can degrade the insulin, reducing its effectiveness.

D. With diet and exercise you may be able to stop taking insulin.: Type 1 diabetes requires lifelong insulin therapy because the pancreas produces little to no insulin. Diet and exercise alone cannot replace the need for insulin. Stopping insulin could lead to life-threatening hyperglycemia or diabetic ketoacidosis.

E. You will need to monitor your glucose more often when you are ill.: Illness can cause stress-induced hyperglycemia and unpredictable blood glucose fluctuations. Frequent monitoring allows timely adjustment of insulin and prevention of complications such as diabetic ketoacidosis.

1. A. Ensure the patient eats their bedtime snack.: While a bedtime snack can help prevent overnight hypoglycemia, the immediate priority after administering regular insulin at 1600 is to cover the meal corresponding to the insulin dose. The snack alone does not match the timing of insulin action.

   B. Check the patient's serum blood glucose level.: Monitoring blood glucose is important, but the key intervention immediately after giving regular insulin is to ensure the patient consumes food to prevent hypoglycemia. Lab checks alone do not provide immediate protection against low blood sugar.

   C. Assess the patient for hypoglycemia around 1730.: Regular insulin peaks around 2–4 hours after administration, so assessment at 1730 may be early. While monitoring is necessary, the primary action is to provide a meal to match the insulin’s onset and prevent hypoglycemia.

   D. Serve the patient the supper tray.: Administering regular insulin requires concurrent carbohydrate intake to prevent hypoglycemia. Serving the supper tray ensures that the insulin’s action is matched with food, maintaining safe blood glucose levels and preventing immediate