Day in the Life of a DOCTOR: Hypoglycemia and 72 hour fast
Hospitalist:
- Early Morning: Review patient charts, check lab results, and prepare for morning rounds. Rounds involve visiting assigned patients, discussing their cases with nurses and specialists, and making treatment plans.
- Mid-Morning: See new patients referred by the ER or other doctors, conduct physical exams, order tests, diagnose conditions, and prescribe treatments.
- Afternoon: Perform procedures (depending on specialty), monitor critically ill patients, attend continuing education meetings or conferences.
- Evening: Update patient charts, dictate notes, and prepare for the next day.
Family Doctor:
- Morning: See patients for scheduled appointments. Appointments typically involve addressing a variety of concerns, from routine checkups and preventative care to managing chronic conditions and diagnosing acute illnesses.
- Lunch Break: May catch up on paperwork, answer patient calls, or collaborate with other healthcare professionals.
- Afternoon: More patient appointments, potentially including minor in-office procedures like skin biopsies or injections.
- End of Day: Review patient charts, return calls, manage referrals, and potentially handle administrative tasks.
Both scenarios likely involve:
- Interacting with nurses, specialists, and other healthcare professionals.
- Answering patient calls and emails.
- Keeping up-to-date with medical advancements through research and continuing education.
- Dealing with unexpected situations that may arise.
Hypglycemia Explained
Hypglycemia is a condition where your blood sugar level (glucose) drops too low. Glucose is the body’s primary source of energy, and it comes from the food you eat.
Here’s a breakdown of hypglycemia:
- Causes: Most commonly caused by diabetes medications (insulin or medications that stimulate insulin production) or skipping meals. Other causes include certain tumors, hormonal disorders, and liver disease.
- Symptoms: Sweating, shakiness, dizziness, irritability, hunger, confusion, difficulty concentrating, blurred vision, rapid heartbeat. In severe cases, it can lead to seizures or coma.
- Treatment: The goal is to raise blood sugar levels quickly. This can be done by consuming sugary foods or drinks like juice, candy, or glucose tablets. If someone is unconscious, glucagon may be administered by injection.
- Prevention: For people with diabetes, maintaining a consistent meal schedule and following medication plans are crucial.
If you experience symptoms of hypoglycemia, it’s important to check your blood sugar level and treat it promptly.