The nurse administers 8 units of regular insulin subcutaneously at 11:30 AM to a client with type 1 diabetes mellitus and serves the client lunch 30 minutes later. The client eats a few bites, becomes nauseated, and is unable to finish the meal. When is the client at highest risk for experiencing an insulin-related hypoglycemic reaction?

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11ecbb05_cc77_8beb_b433_7b67f17d954d_MD0009_00 Insulin is a medication commonly used to control and lower blood glucose levels in clients with diabetes mellitus. The nurse must be familiar with the various insulin types and their times of peak effect, which are the periods of highest risk for hypoglycemic events. Regular insulin is a short-acting insulin that reaches the peak effect within 2-5 hours after subcutaneous administration. Therefore, clients who receive regular insulin subcutaneously at 11:30 AM are at highest risk for hypoglycemia between 1:30 PM and 4:30 PM (Option B). (Option A) Rapid-acting insulins (eg, lispro, aspart) take peak effect in 30 minutes to 3 hours. Clients who receive rapid-acting insulin at 11:30 AM would be most at risk for hypoglycemia from 12:00-2:30 PM. (Options C and D) Both insulin NPH, an intermediate-acting insulin, and insulin detemir, a long-acting insulin, have peak effect times that may cause hypoglycemia at 5-6 PM in clients who receive the medication at 11:30 AM. peak effect times Educational objective: Insulin is a medication used to control and lower blood glucose levels in clients with diabetes mellitus. Peak effect times vary according to insulin type and represent the time of highest risk for hypoglycemic events. Regular insulin, a short-acting insulin, reaches peak effect 2-5 hours after subcutaneous administration.

The Nurse Administers 8 Units of Regular Insulin Subcutaneously at 11:30