# of carbs

[nantomsuethom]

I am trying to help a fellow school nurse make up an emergency kit for one of her diabetic students.

I like to put the carb count with the supplies on the list.
How many carbs are in a tube of gel icing and a packet of sugar?

[archimeech]

it's better to use the glucotabs, I think that they are 15 gms of carbs each.

If you need to put something in the kit that you can administer if they aren't responding, you should put in a dextrose-syringe pack, and something that you can poor a little at a time into their mouth like syrup or honey.(just be careful they don't choke.)

[nantomsuethom]

The student is fed via a G-Tube. I am not sure if she will be able to eat glucotabs (but they are on my list). I am meeting with the nurse and possibly the student at 3pm today.
Being the only school nurse in our county with a diabetic child on a pump, I am the one called on to help out with orders and organization.

[archimeech]

wow! then, that student definitely has some issues. I didn't realize that diabetes was the least of her worries. I thought we were talking about a typical student. My deepest apologies.
Meech

[Shalyndria]

Does she aspirate if fed PO? Or can she take liquids PO?

I would suggest using a needle-less syringe and keeping packets of sugar on hand. I'm sure her G-tube must have a piggyback, in which case you could just fill the syringe with warm water and a couple of packs of sugar (last I heard, sugar packs are 5g CHO a piece) and shoot it into the Gastro tube. This could also be done PO if necessary, just squirt slowly into the back of the cheek.

Glucose tabs are generally approx. 5 gm CHO a piece.

Shy

[nantomsuethom]

Thanks Meech and Shy,

Just met with the nurse and student. It is much more complicated than I thought!!
The student can not take anything by mouth. The doctor ordered OJ in her tube if her bg is less than 70.
I thought the sugar was 5gm, but wasn't poss.

Nancy