giving insulin intradermal??

[CameoCrystal]

I went a little shallow on giving insulin and actually gave it more intradermal rather than subq. There was a little bleb on the patient's arm, and now I'm freaking out about it. I read somewhere that insulin (70/30) can be given either subq or intradermal. Does anyone know for sure? I asked my charge nurse who said it was probably ok.

[Myxel67]

I've never heard of intradermal insulin, but that doesn't mean it isn't possible. It's usually important to make sure that needle goes deep enough to enter sub-Q tissue, but not deep enough to be IM. In any event, it's most likely that insulin was ordered Sub-Q and should have been given sub-Q.

It's best not to inject at an angle. If pt is very thin, pinch up enough to be able to inject straight in. With Lantus it's even more important to inject at 90 degree angle.

Google intradermal insulin. There's lots of info. But remember, med must be given by route ordered.

[Myxel67]

I checked some of the references to intradermal insulin from Google. Most were referring to a device to administer insulin intradermally as a continuous infusion (would all be fast acting). I wouldn't worry about one injection, however. Just don't give at an angle--or at least not at a shallow angle.