Sick day insulin?

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Specializes in Ortho.

Ok, so I thought that when a diabetic is sick and isn't eating that they should still take their morning insulin. However, I just got a question about a patient being NPO for surgery and the answer was to hold the morning insulin. I mean either way, they are not eating, so what is the difference? Thanks for any help!

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i had this question on one of my tests in school and i believe it is because when a person is sick their sugar levels increase due to the stress so the insulin is needed. it is held before surgery because unlike a sick person they will be eating absolutely nothing and won’t have the higher sugar levels due to illness. the last thing they want is a person to go hypoglycemic on the table!

hope that helps!!!

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If you have a diabetic, and they are NPO for several hours before surgery, then you give them insulin, they are gonna drop super fast.

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Is the pt diabetic that is going for surgery??

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