Insulin

Question 1

actions

Answer 1

• promotes the storage of the body’s fuels (glucose) and putting it in the cells
• facilitates transport of various metabolites & ions across cell membranes
• simulates the synthesis of glycogen from glucose
• reacts with specific receptor sites on the cells
• focus on the rapid/short-acting and intermediate insulin

Type 1 diabetes: the body is unable to produce insulin
Type 2 diabetes: the body is insulin-resistant

Question 2

Nursing responsibilities

Answer 2

• monitor blood glucose level
• check history
• physical exam
• if the blood sugar is too high, there’s no need to panic as it doesn’t cause immediate effects
• hypoglycemia can put the person into a coma so they require a more immediate attention

Pt teaching:

• injection sites: rotate the injection sites
• storage of insulin
• signs & symptoms of hypoglycemia, treatment of hypoglycemia (glucose pills, jam, juice, etc)

Question 3

Fixed-combinations (Cloudy)

Answer 3

Don’t mix with other insulins!

Question 4

isophane insulin suspension (NPH): Humulin N, Novolin N

Answer 4

cloudy

when mixing with regular insulin, always draw the regular insulin into the syringe 1st and administer it immediately

usually given within 60 mins of a meal

Question 5

Long-acting (clear): degludec, determir, glargine

Answer 5

Don’t mix with other insulins or solutions

Question 6

Rapid-acting (clear): aspart, glulisine, lispro

Answer 6

can only mix with NPH (intermediate-acting)

always draw up the rapid-acting insulin first, then the NPH, and administer immediately

Question 7

Short-acting (clear): regular (Humulin R)

Answer 7

can only be mixed with NPH

have the pt eat within 30 mins of injection