novolog 70/30 as coverage?

I never gave this as a coverage

If the patient is insulin dependent and uses 70/30 at home as coverage, then yes I do give it as coverage. Generally we give regular if they are diet or orally controlled.

When I was in school, I had thought that only regular insulin was given per sliding scale. I have seen a number of extremely insulin-resistant patients given Humalog/Novolog (very quick-acting insulin) per SS.

70/30 is a mix of either 70% regular, 30% NPH (intermediate acting cloudy insulin), or the other way around. Can't remember, I haven't dealt with insulin in about a year and a half. and I have never heard of that being given per SS. Typically, that was given BID.

We use Regular for converage, I do have one resident on Humalog and one with one of those pens, but we have never used 70/30 for sliding scale coverage, only for long lasting. We rarely use it though. Most of the residents use Lantus for this.

I never heard of it, either. I look forward to more responses...maybe some doctors would order it for coverage, but that is a new one on me!

Yes, I've seen it given as coverage when nothing else seemed to work to control the numbers.

novolog is not regular insulin.

novolog (aspart) is rapid acting insulin - with an immediate onset.

novolog is the "other" coverage. it is appropriate for "peakers" -- that is, for those whose blood glucose level peaks (a sudden sharp rise) following meals.

most of us are use to covering with regular insulin for diabetics whose blood glucose level rises gradually to a sustained high level.

i've not given the 70/30 as coverage -- but i could see how some diabetics would benefit.

never heard of that....we use novolog or regular insulins for our sliding scales.

do any of you ever give patients novolog 70/30 insulin for sliding scale coverage? i thought either novolog is a short acting insulin like regular insulin. i thought only regular insulins are used for sliding scale coverage and the mixtures like 70/30 are given scheduled.

novolog 70/30 is a mix of slow (nph 70%) and 30% faster acting (30% regular.) we don't use much mixed insulin anymore or regular. regular is fast acting compared to nph but still takes 30 or more min to work and should be given that long before a meal. lantus is a 24 hr lasting insulin (altho some for people it doesn't last that long) humalog is a rapid onset insulin that starts working 15 min and should in most cases not be given until you see the food in front of the pt. we don't do much sliding scale anymore. base the before meal humalog on how many carbs pt is going to eat. and adjust the lantus as needed.

and let the ones with a insulin pump adjust as they need to.