Insulin

Question 1

• natural hormone secreted by the pancreases
• used to control blood sugar levels in people who cannot produce enough
• measured in units (100 units per mL)
• high alert medication

Answer 1

Insulin

Question 2

• clear solution
• can be mixed
• subcutaneous or IV
• onset of 5-15 minutes
• humalog (lispro)
• novolog (aspart)
• apidra (glulisine)

Answer 2

Rapid Acting Insulin

Question 3

• clear solution
• can be mixed
• subcutaneous or IV
• onset of 30-45 minutes
• regular (R)

Answer 3

Short acting insulin

Question 4

• cloudy solution
• can be mixed
• must roll between palms before drawing up
• subcutaneous only
• onset of 1-3 hours
• NPH (N)

Answer 4

Intermediate acting insulin

Question 5

• cannot be mixed
• always subcutaneous
• Lantus (insulin glargine)
  
  • no peak 24 hr duration
  • given at same time daily
  • clear
• Levimir (detemir)
  
  • not as long lasting as lantus
  • may need 2 daily doses
  • clear
• tresiba (insulin degludec injection)
  
  • clear
  • no peak, 24 hour duration
  • flextouch pen (100 units per mL and 200 units per mL)

Answer 5

Long acting insulin

Question 6

-admixtures of fast and intermediate acting insulins
-combine basal and mealtime insulin
Example) novolin 70/30 = 70% NPH with 30% regular

Answer 6

Fixed combinations of insulin

Question 7

• used for very high blood sugar
• 500 units per mL
• read label carefully
• administer with 1 mL syringe

Answer 7

U-500 insulin

Question 8

• must include the following
  
  • brand name
  • number of units to be administered
  • route
  • time
  • strength of solution

Answer 8

Scheduled insulin orders

Question 9

• sliding scale
• times to draw CBG
• regular or lispro
• dosage specified on basis of specific blood glucose range
• not ideal
• treats hyperglycemia rather than prevent it

Answer 9

Coverage/sliding scale insulin orders

Question 10

• always draw up regular or short acting insulin first (clear solutions) then draw up intermediate solution (cloudy)
• mix only same types (humulinR and humulinN)
• never mix Lantus or levemir
• total volume in syringe should = total units ordered

Answer 10

Measuring 2 types of insulin in same syringe