Question

A medical nurse is caring for a patient with type 1 diabetes. The patient's medication administration record includes the administration of regular insulin three times daily. Knowing that the patient's lunch tray will arrive at 11:45, when should the nurse administer the patient's insulin?

A) 10:45
B) 11:15
C) 11:45
D) 11:50

Answer 1

The nurse should administer the regular insulin at 11:15, which is 30 minutes before the patient's lunch at 11:45, to manage blood glucose levels effectively.

Step-by-step explanation:

Given that the patient has type 1 diabetes and requires regular insulin to manage blood glucose levels, the nurse should administer insulin close to mealtime to ensure that glucose levels remain stable after eating. Regular insulin typically starts to work within 30 minutes to an hour after injection and continues to work for several hours. Therefore, the best time to administer the patient's insulin would be 11:15 (Answer B), 30 minutes before the lunch is expected at 11:45. This timing allows the insulin to begin working as the patient starts to eat, helping to manage the increase in blood glucose that will result from the meal.