Diabetes Pathophysiology Questions
Diabetes
Ms. Brown is an older adult with diabetes and has been too ill to get
out of bed for 2 days. She has had a severe cough and has been unable to eat or
drink during this time. On admission her laboratory values show:
|
Ms. Brown’s values |
||
|
Sodium (Na+) |
156 mEq/L |
|
|
Potassium (K+) |
4.0 mEq/L |
|
|
Chloride (Cl–) |
115 mEq/L |
|
|
Arterial blood gases (ABGs) |
pH, 7.30; Pco2, |
|
|
Normal values |
||
|
Sodium (Na+) |
136-146 mEq/L |
|
|
Potassium (K+) |
3.5-5.1 mEq/L |
|
|
Chloride (Cl–) |
98-106 mEq/L |
|
|
Arterial blood gases (ABGs) |
pH |
7.35-7.45 |
|
Pco2 |
35-45 mmHg |
|
|
Po2 |
80-100 mmHg |
|
|
HCO3– |
22-28 mEq/L |
a.
What type of water and solute imbalance does Ms. Brown have?
b.
What symptoms would you expect to find?
c.
What would be the treatment?
d.
What do her ABGs mean?
e.
Does she have a normal or an abnormal anion gap?
