insulin peaks give or not to give SS

[LVN2006]

Hi,

My teacher says give insulin R and 8 NPH say 7 a.m.. regular peaks in a couple of hours and NPH approaching peak about noon. Dr. has SS 200> BS give 2 units Regular. She says if you give the SS when you test the BS about 11:30 a.m. the patient may go into insulin shock. the NPH continues for a few more hours. can anybody explain how this works so that I can truly understand when to give it. My lab is MONDAY. Need to pass for our capping ceremony

[suzanne4, RN]

Hi,

My teacher says give insulin R and 8 NPH say 7 a.m.. Regular peaks in a couple of hours and NPH approaching peak about noon. Dr. has SS 200> BS give 2 units Regular. She says if you give the SS when you test the BS about 11:30 a.m. the patient may go into insulin shock. the NPH continues for a few more hours. can anybody explain how this works so that I can truly understand when to give it. My lab is MONDAY. Need to pass for our capping ceremony

Your NPH is going to peak more around 2 pm, 2 units of regular is not going to make much of a difference, and definitely not put your patient into insulin shock unless their normal dose of insulin is too much for them.

Regular insulin is short acting and NPH is considered intermediate. Try doing a google or yahoo search on insulins and you will get more documentation of what I am telling you.

Good luck on your exam............... :balloons: