Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

Disable ads (and more) with a membership for a one time $2.99 payment

Prepare for the Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Test with focused study methods including flashcards and multiple-choice questions. Practice with hints and detailed explanations to boost your readiness for the exam.

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

In the context of diabetes management, what is considered a critical blood sugar reading?

120 mg/dL
90 mg/dL
70 mg/dL
50 mg/dL

The correct answer is: 50 mg/dL

A critical blood sugar reading in diabetes management indicates levels that could lead to severe complications or require immediate intervention. A blood sugar level of 50 mg/dL is considered hypoglycemic, which means it is dangerously low and could result in symptoms such as confusion, weakness, seizures, or even loss of consciousness if not addressed promptly. Maintaining blood sugar within a normal range is crucial, and a reading of 50 mg/dL reflects a state that necessitates urgent treatment to elevate glucose levels. Recognizing such critical low readings is essential for effective diabetes management and emergency response, ensuring that appropriate actions—like administration of glucose or glucose-containing foods—are taken to prevent serious medical consequences. In contrast, the other blood sugar levels (120 mg/dL, 90 mg/dL, and 70 mg/dL) are generally within acceptable ranges for individuals with diabetes, thus not posing an immediate health threat. Understanding these critical thresholds is vital for EMTs and healthcare providers monitoring patients with diabetes.