The client who has been taking glipizide for 6 months reports to the nurse that his urine has become darker since starting the medication. What is the nurse's first action?

A. The effectiveness of oral antihypoglycemic agents does not depend on dosage amounts that would make them cost-prohibitive. Instead, these medications work by stimulating insulin production or enhancing insulin sensitivity, which is not relevant for Type 1 diabetes.
B. While some individuals may have allergies to certain medications, this is not the reason oral antihypoglycemic agents are ineffective for those with Type 1 diabetes. The ineffectiveness is not related to allergy but rather to the underlying pathology of the disease.
C. While it is true that the risk of hypoglycemia exists with all glucose-lowering therapies, this is not the primary reason why oral antihypoglycemics are ineffective in Type 1 diabetes. The use of these agents may increase hypoglycemia risk in a broader context, but the fundamental issue is related to insulin deficiency.
D. In Type 1 diabetes, the pancreas produces little to no insulin due to autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing beta cells. Oral antihypoglycemic agents typically rely on the presence of some endogenous insulin to be effective.

A. While testing for occult blood can help rule out hematuria (blood in the urine), it’s not the immediate priority. Dark urine could be related to several factors, including dehydration or changes in liver function, making this not the best first step.
B. While monitoring weight is important, it doesn't directly address the issue of dark urine. Weight changes might indicate fluid retention or loss but are not as immediately relevant to the urine color change.
C. Increasing water intake can help dilute the urine and may help with hydration. However, before suggesting this, it's important to understand the underlying cause of the urine change.
D. Glipizide and other sulfonylureas can affect liver function, and dark urine can indicate potential liver issues, such as bilirubinuria (bilirubin in the urine). Reviewing liver function studies would provide critical information to assess if the change in urine color is related to liver dysfunction or other serious issues.