Which statement best describes the role of glucose control in post-arrest care?

Which statement best describes the role of glucose control in post-arrest care?

• A. Glucose control is not important
• B. Glucose should be aggressively reduced to near-normal levels
• C. Glucose control is a core component of post-arrest care
• D. Glucose management should be avoided entirely

Answer: (C)

Maintaining blood glucose after cardiac arrest is essential because both high and low glucose levels can worsen brain injury and overall outcomes. After return of spontaneous circulation, stress hormones raise glucose, and hyperglycemia is linked to larger brain injury and poorer neurologic recovery, while hypoglycemia can deprive the brain of needed fuel during a vulnerable period. Because of this, clinicians aim for a moderate, stable glucose range rather than pushing to normal levels. That makes glucose management a central part of post-arrest care, alongside factors like oxygenation, perfusion, and temperature control. Aggressively driving glucose to near-normal levels isn’t favored because it raises the risk of hypoglycemia without proven outcome benefits. So, careful monitoring and controlled insulin therapy to avoid extremes is the best approach, keeping glucose in a safe target range.

Maintaining blood glucose after cardiac arrest is essential because both high and low glucose levels can worsen brain injury and overall outcomes. After return of spontaneous circulation, stress hormones raise glucose, and hyperglycemia is linked to larger brain injury and poorer neurologic recovery, while hypoglycemia can deprive the brain of needed fuel during a vulnerable period. Because of this, clinicians aim for a moderate, stable glucose range rather than pushing to normal levels. That makes glucose management a central part of post-arrest care, alongside factors like oxygenation, perfusion, and temperature control. Aggressively driving glucose to near-normal levels isn’t favored because it raises the risk of hypoglycemia without proven outcome benefits. So, careful monitoring and controlled insulin therapy to avoid extremes is the best approach, keeping glucose in a safe target range.