Question

The nurse teaches a 38-year-old man who was recently diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus about insulin administration. Which statement by the patient requires an intervention by the nurse?

a. "I will discard any insulin bottle that is cloudy in appearance."
b. "The best injection site for insulin administration is in my abdomen."
c. "I can wash the site with soap and water before insulin administration."
d. "I may keep my insulin at room temperature (75o F) for up to a month."

Answer 1

The patient's statement about discarding any insulin bottle that is cloudy in appearance requires intervention. Some insulins are naturally cloudy, and different types need different handling and storage. Knowledge about proper insulin use is critical for adherence to treatment in type 1 diabetes.

Step-by-step explanation:

The statement by the patient that requires intervention by the nurse is "I will discard any insulin bottle that is cloudy in appearance." While some types of insulin should be clear, others are naturally cloudy.

It is essential to understand that not all insulin is clear. For example, NPH (Neutral Protamine Hagedorn) insulin is supposed to be gently mixed before use, leading to a uniformly cloudy solution. Discarding a bottle of insulin solely based on cloudiness could lead to waste of medication and lack of treatment adherence. Patients with type 1 diabetes, whose pancreas are under-producing insulin, need to be correctly informed on how to identify if their insulin is safe to use or if it has gone bad.

Ideally, insulin should be stored in a refrigerator, but once in use, keeping it at room temperature (up to a month for many types, as it may cause less irritation at injection) can be acceptable. However, it is vital to avoid exposure to extreme temperatures or direct sunlight. The other statements by the patient about injection site, site cleansing, and storage at room temperature are correct and do not require intervention.