Giving Lantus insulin when patient is NPO

[retiredlady]

I have been out of nursing for a while. I just wondered if a patient is NPO, do they still receive their Lantus insulin when they are on a sliding scale or just the sliding scale? I thought that they still do because its their basal insulin or they get a reduced dosage. Just wondering,thanks :wink2:

[retiredlady]

Thanks everyone. That's what I thought about not holding the Lantus. You are a great bunch for info!!

[Faeriewand, ASN, RN]

Thanks everyone. That's what I thought about not holding the Lantus. You are a great bunch for info!!

Well thanks retiredlady for starting this thread. :heartbeat I learned something today! :)

[evilolive, BSN, RN]

I did as well, thank you!

[ERjodiRN]

people requiring lantuns insulin to begin with typically have high fasting blood sugars, so it should still be given. like people have already stated, lantus insulin has no peak and is supposed to mimic your body's own natural insulin release. it's the sliding scale you need to pay closer attention to.

[SuesquatchRN, BSN, RN]

We never, ever held Lantus.

[starryi79]

Thank you soo much for starting this thread! I go with my gut in most cases but understood the Lantus to be like a natural body response and should be given all the time. If the patient is very low a call to the doc- that is what he

makes the BIG bucks for right? Thank you again for helping me KNOW the answer to this question.

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

I would normally have agreed with the others that say give the Lantus, but I've seen people bottom out from being given their Lantus while NPO. In fact, I've seen it twice in the last week with two different patients. One of them got their full dose and went down to 63, the other got a reduced dose and went down to 41; this one was also on fluids containing dextrose.

[blondy2061h, MSN, RN]

I would normally have agreed with the others that say give the Lantus, but I've seen people bottom out from being given their Lantus while NPO. In fact, I've seen it twice in the last week with two different patients. One of them got their full dose and went down to 63, the other got a reduced dose and went down to 41; this one was also on fluids containing dextrose.

I've seen people on Lantus just temporarily due to TPN, steroids, etc. In these people I'd be more likely to hold it. If the patient has been on TPN/continuous feeds and getting Lantus, and these were stopped, I'd definitely hold the Lantus as in these patients its impossible to differentiate meal insulin needs from fasting insulin needs, and they're at enough risk of bottoming out from the TPN/feeds being stopped.