Question

A client with diabetes is prescribed insulin glargine once daily and regular insulin four times daily. One dose of regular insulin is scheduled at the same time as the glargine. How does the nurse instruct the client to administer the two doses of insulin?

A) "Draw up and inject the insulin glargine first, then draw up and inject the regular insulin."
B) "First draw up the dose of regular insulin, then draw up the dose of insulin glargine in the same syringe, mix, and inject the two insulins together."
C) "First draw up the dose of insulin glargine, then draw up the dose of regular insulin in the same syringe, mix, and inject the two insulins together."
D) "Draw up and inject the insulin glargine first, wait 20 minutes, then draw up and inject the regular insulin."

Answer 1

The nurse should instruct the client to inject insulin glargine first, followed by regular insulin, without mixing them to properly manage blood glucose levels. It is essential to separate these injections due to their different actions and durations.

Step-by-step explanation:

The correct way for a client with diabetes to administer insulin glargine (a long-acting insulin) and regular insulin (a short-acting insulin) when one dose is scheduled at the same time is to draw up and inject them separately. The nurse should instruct the client to administer the insulin glargine first, followed by the regular insulin. It is important not to mix these two types of insulin because they have different durations of action and mixing could alter their effectiveness.

Insulin injections are crucial for managing blood glucose levels in individuals with diabetes. The regular insulin helps to decrease blood glucose levels after consuming a large or high-glucose meal by allowing the cells to uptake and use glucose. On the other hand, insulin glargine provides a stable level of insulin over a 24-hour period to manage baseline glucose levels.

It is essential to follow specific instructions for injecting insulin to maintain blood glucose control and avoid complications. When administering an injection of insulin, as shown in the reference information, the goal is to support the transport and storage of glucose, thereby managing blood glucose levels effectively for individuals with diabetes.