Insulin

[Spritenurse1210, BSN, RN]

What glucose level would be too low to administer insulin? My facility says 80. Any comments?

[SunnyAndrsn]

What glucose level would be too low to administer insulin? My facility says 80. Any comments?

What type of insulin? If it's Lantus, then no, 80 is not too low. I have one pt. whose order reads that if it's below 75, to decrease the dosage by 5 units. This is for mealtime coverage. I have made the decision to hold insulin based on readings of 70, AND the fact that the pt. did not eat anything for supper. Had the pt. eaten supper, I would have given the insulin per orders.

If it's NPH, I guess it would depend on if this is for mealtime coverage or not, the dosage, and also what the pt. normally runs at that time of day.

[Lorie P.]

if your facility has a policy then you go by it, but take in other considerations, like if a person says ' i don't take anything if my bs is so&so, pt didn't eat or tells you i drop during the night or is having n&v or just naseauted and can't eat, etc, etc, etc,

this is where critical thinking and being "a prudent nurse" comes into play.

also listen to your pt's, they know their own bodies better than any one else and be sure to document!

i have taken care of pt's that had a bs of 100, was due to get coverage but told me " no, i don't take any insulin for that level and doc knows it" so i kindly reminded pt that doc soinso had it ordered and you know the importance of taking coverage, and then documented exactly what pt stated, that i educated them and held coverage per pt request. never was an issue or problem.

hope this helps!

[hollyberry678]

We have low, medium, and high intensity ss insulin coverage, so it would depend on the orders, but for 80 we probably wouldn't give novolog.