Final answer:
A nurse must verify patient identity, assess for allergies, check the insulin's expiration date, and inform the patient of potential side effects when preparing to administer an insulin injection, which decreases blood glucose levels in diabetes patients.
Step-by-step explanation:
When a nurse is preparing to administer an insulin injection to a patient, it is imperative to undertake several measures to ensure patient safety and effectiveness of the treatment. The correct steps include: verifying the patient's identity and assessing for allergies, checking the expiration date of the insulin, and informing the patient of potential side effects both before and after administration. Insulin injections are critical for individuals with diabetes as they help in the transport and storage of glucose, and work to decrease blood glucose levels after consuming a meal rich in glucose.
Insulin enables cells to uptake glucose effectively from the blood, thereby reducing blood sugar levels to normal ranges for individuals with diabetes, who are unable to produce or properly use their own insulin. Specifically, for patients with type 1 diabetes, where the pancreas does not produce insulin, these injections are a lifelong necessity to manage their condition.