What does the 'I' in the AEIOU TIPS acronym stand for?

The 'I' in the AEIOU TIPS acronym stands for Insulin. This acronym is used by emergency medical professionals to help remember potential causes of altered mental status in patients. Each letter represents a different category of conditions or deficits that could lead to changes in consciousness or behavior.

In this context, insulin is critical to consider because altered levels of consciousness can be associated with diabetes and conditions like diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) or hypoglycemia (low blood sugar), both of which involve insulin regulation. Recognizing issues related to insulin allows EMTs to quickly determine if the patient's altered mental status could be related to diabetes management problems, enabling effective and timely treatment. The other terms listed in the options refer to different medical considerations, but insulin specifically ties into significant metabolic disturbances affecting consciousness.