A 21-year-old man arrives at the emergency department after experiencing dizziness and extreme fatigue for several days. For the past two weeks, the patient has been drinking a lot of water and urinating more than usual. He experienced nausea and vomiting a day ago and has struggled to keep food and liquids down since then. There are no other medical conditions or medications that the patient is taking. The blood pressure is 90/60 mm Hg, the pulse is 120 beats per minute, and the respirations are 20 bpm. Urinalysis reveals glucose and ketones. The patient is given intravenous fluids as well as an intravenous infusion of recombinant human insulin that has not been modified in any way. When his condition has stabilized, the insulin infusion is stopped and the same insulin formulation is given subcutaneously. Which of the following drug concentration curves is most likely to be obtained after the subcutaneous insulin injection?

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Eductional Objective: Diabetic ketoacidosis is initially treated with an intravenous infusion of regular insulin, which allows for rapid adjustments in dose based on blood glucose levels.  When given subcutaneously, regular insulin starts working within 30 minutes, peaks in 2-4 hours, and lasts 5-8 hours.

A 21-Year-Old Man Arrives at the Emergency Department After Experiencing