The home care nurse notes that a 67-year-old female diabetic client’s

The home care nurse notes that a 67-year-old female diabetic client’s blood glucose level has been elevated since she strained her back the previous week.

The client states that she cannot understand why her blood glucose level is elevated. The nurse suspects the most likely cause for the elevated blood sugar is:
1. The decreased activity level of the client since the injury
2. Parasympathetic stimulation from the body’s normal response to pain
3. The client is consuming more food as a comfort measure
4. The client may not be taking her medication as ordered

ANSWER

ANS: 2
An increased blood glucose level is the body’s physiological response to pain, which is triggered by the parasympathetic nervous system in order to provide additional glucose for additional en-ergy.