Which complication associated with type 1 diabetes should the nurse include in the teaching plan for the parent of a newly diagnosed child?

• A. Obesity
• B. Ketoacidosis
• C. Resistance to treatment
• D. Hypersensitivity to other medications

Answer: (B)

Diabetic ketoacidosis is the urgent complication to focus on when teaching parents of a newly diagnosed child. It happens when there isn’t enough insulin, so the body can’t use glucose properly and starts breaking down fat for energy. That fat breakdown creates ketones, which build up in the blood and lead to dehydration and a dangerous acid–base imbalance. In children, DKA can develop quickly, especially during illness, when insulin doses are missed, or fluid intake is not maintained. So teaching should emphasize recognizing early signs—more thirst and urination, unintended weight loss, fatigue, abdominal pain or vomiting, fast or deep breathing, fruity breath—and knowing when to take action: check blood glucose and ketones, keep up with insulin and fluids as prescribed, and seek urgent care if vomiting prevents fluids, if glucose remains high with positive ketones, or if signs of dehydration or altered mental status appear. Other options listed aren’t the immediate teaching targets here; obesity isn’t an acute complication of new-onset type 1 diabetes, and resistance to treatment or hypersensitivity to medications aren’t typical concerns at this stage.