Final answer:
Insulin is added to PN solutions to help decrease blood glucose levels post-meal and to manage glucose and potassium levels in patients, especially those with diabetes. It is necessary for the safe and effective control of metabolic processes during parental nutrition therapy.
Step-by-step explanation:
Reason for Adding Insulin to PN Solution
Insulin is commonly added to parental nutrition (PN) solutions to regulate blood glucose levels. After consuming a meal that is high in glucose, blood glucose levels significantly increase, necessitating the administration of insulin to facilitate the uptake of glucose by body tissues. Essentially, insulin helps to decrease blood glucose levels postprandially, thus avoiding hyperglycemia that could be harmful to the patient. Moreover, insulin promotes cellular uptake of potassium along with glucose, which can help prevent hyperglycemia-induced hyperkalemia, although it may necessitate monitoring and supplementation of potassium to avoid hypokalemia.
PN solutions are carefully designed to meet a patient's nutritional needs when they are unable to consume food orally. Including insulin in a PN solution helps manage glucose levels effectively, providing a continuous and controlled dosage alongside the nutrients being infused. This is critical for patients, particularly those with diabetes, who require careful blood sugar management. The development of recombinant DNA technology has allowed the synthesis of human insulin, which is used in these solutions and has become the standard for treatment due to its effectiveness and reduced risk of allergic reactions compared to animal-derived insulin.