Insulin question??

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Im studying Diabetes Mellitus, and i am having a hard time understanding the association between insulin and their "peak times"

I just can't seem to get what a peak time is? I know in general a peak is the top of something, or the highest point of something but i don't understand the relation.

For example, my text says Humalog has a 0.5 - 1.5 hr peak time with a 3-4 hr duration. How does the insulin affect the patient when it reaches its peak time.

Can someone please explain.

Thanks

~m

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Specializes in Nursing Professional Development.

For drugs ... peak times are the times when the drug reaches its maximum effectiveness. Think it about it for a minute. When you take a drug (e.g. an aspirin for a headache), it doesn't instantaneously take effect. Your body has to absorb the medication before it can start working. The drug gradually reaches it's time of maximum effectiveness ("peak time") and then it gradually wears off. Right.

The "duration" that you mention is the time period during which the insulin has any significant effect at all. The "peak time" is that shorter period of time when the effectiveness of the medication is at it maximum effectiveness.

The different types of insulins have different durations (lengths of time they are effective at all) and peak times (the period of maximum effectiveness).

I hope that helps.

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Specializes in psych,and detox,and Ltc.

A good thing to remember about the peak time is the patient is at the most risk for developing hypoglycemia at the peak time.

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Specializes in ICU.

peak time = peak performance (of the medication/drug)

What does insulin do --> decrease/buffer hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia

Therefore --> peak time = peak hypoglycemia

Best of luck

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peak times for insulin is usually when the insulin works the hardest.

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Specializes in Med Surg, ER, OR.

Speaking about peak times, can someone quickly re-explain "sick days?" Thanks to anyone who can break this down for me.

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Speaking about peak times, can someone quickly re-explain "sick days?" Thanks to anyone who can break this down for me.

Pts must be taught sick days guidelines for managing their diabetes when ill. So a sick days is when a pt with diabetes feels bad or is sick. They tend to not take care of themselves as well, which is actually worse. They sometimes will feel so bad that they will want to eliminate insulin doses, especially when N/V; however, this is the worst idea ever. A pt should be educated about sick day rules and understand them. Several rules are:

*take insulin or oral antidiabetic agents as usual

*test glucose and urine ketones q 3-4 hr.

*report elevated results >300

*if taking insulin, may need supplemental doses of regular insulin q 3-4 hr

*unable to maintain meal paln, substitute soft foods, gleatin, cream soup, custard, 6 to 8 x per day

*N/V/D- take liquids cola, orange juice, gatorade q hr

These are just a few sick day rules . hope this helps :twocents:

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thanks for everyone's input, it was a huge help!

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mystiqx,

Thanks for asking that question. I was having trouble with that also.

I do have another question if anyone can help.....

I don't understand what exactly a buffered insulin is, the text says something about it being buffered with phosphorus, but I am not realy sure I understand this.

Thanks

Kare

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