Question

A nurse is reinforcing teaching for a client who has diabetes mellitus and has a prescription for insulin detemir injections once daily. Which of the following statements by the client indicates an understanding of the teaching?

A. "If my blood sugar is high, I can mix a dose of regular insulin with my insulin detemir."
Rationale: Insulin detemir should not be mixed with any other insulin in the same syringe.
B. "I should inject by insulin detemir 30 min before a meal to lower my blood sugar."
Rationale: Insulin detemir is absorbed slowly and does not need to be taken before a meal.
C. "I can inject my insulin detemir in the evening before bedtime."
Rationale: When prescribed once daily, insulin detemir is injected in the evening, either with the evening meal or at bedtime
D. "I don't have to worry about hypoglycemia while taking insulin detemir. " Rationale: As with other types of insulin, the client should be instructed to monitor for hypoglycemia when taking insulin detemir and should also learn how to manage manifestations of hypoglycemia.

Answer 1

The correct statement regarding insulin detemir usage for someone with diabetes mellitus is that it should be injected in the evening before bedtime, as detemir is a long-acting insulin. Monitoring for hypoglycemia remains important regardless of insulin type.

Step-by-step explanation:

The client with diabetes mellitus who has a prescription for insulin detemir and understands the teaching will make the following statement, "I can inject my insulin detemir in the evening before bedtime." This correctly reflects the usage instructions for insulin detemir when it is prescribed once daily. The rationale behind this is that insulin detemir is designed for a long-acting effect and does not have to be synchronized with meal times. Additionally, the client must be aware that while using any insulin, including insulin detemir, they should monitor for signs of hypoglycemia and know how to address this potential condition, as insulin injections assist in the transport and storage of glucose, which lowers blood glucose levels after meals.