Intravenous regular insulin

[echoSN]

HI. JUST WANNA ASK BOUT REGULAR INSULIN IV ADMINISTRATION.. Is it okay if i inject it through peripheral venous access? and how fast should it go? thanks...

[MatthewRN]

It's fine to run it through a peripheral. As for how fast it should go, that's up to the doc's order. We almost always have standard order set for our patient's on insulin gtt's that maps out what dose they need per hour based on glucose values and trends.

[Blee O'Myacin, BSN, RN]

Dont forget to do (and document) your q1h accuchecks!

[RheatherN, ASN, RN, EMT-P]

You need to follow your hospital policy as well as your orders. we have orders as Matthew mentioned that we adjust by the BG readings every hour. and yes, it can go thru a regular PIV.

-H-RN

[Larry77, RN]

We frequently give IV Regular Insulin with IV Dextrose for pt's with hyperkalemia...I just give it as a "normal" rate...not fast, not slow. Usually if the pt is DKA we use a gtt...starting somewhere between 5 and 8 units/hr...

[Christy1019, ASN, RN]

if they're blood sugar is at least above 250 but they aren't DKA, we use subQ, if they're DKA they get an initial bolus ivp through the piv and then an insulin drip, and if they are hyperkalemic they get an insulin bolus ivp and an amp D50 along with some of the oh so lovely kayexalate lol. im not sure if that answers your question or not, but if its regular insulin coverage for a non-Dka pt they receive subq, we don't just interchange subq and ivp in that instance

[*ac*]

I have a funny feeling the OP is asking if subq and IV are interchangeable, and of course they are not. If the order says SC, it must be given subcutaneously.

[Christy1019, ASN, RN]

I have a funny feeling the OP is asking if subq and IV are interchangeable, and of course they are not. If the order says SC, it must be given subcutaneously.

lol i agree

[Jennifer, RN]

Regular insulin can be given IVP. I usually give a single dose over 1 minute. Where I work, we often give Regular Insulin IV to bring high blood sugars down quickly. If, as other posters have suggested, you are talking about giving SC insulin IV instead, then no, they are not interchangable routes.

[merit119]

can someone specify exactly how you give R insulin bolus through PIV? You just insert a insulin needle to the peripheral IV access and push it over 2 minutes and then do a very slow NS flush?

[Virgo_RN, BSN, RN]

What does your drug guide say?

[merit119]

my Davis drug guide on my PDA does not say anything about how to administer bolus.