Insulin Therapy Flashcards
7 cards from real Diabetes practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Insulin Therapy flashcards as text
Which insulin type is most appropriate for covering mealtime glucose spikes?
Answer: Lispro (Humalog)
Rapid-acting insulins like lispro are designed to match postprandial glucose rises due to their quick onset.
A patient using an insulin pump (CSII) experiences a site infection. What is the most important immediate action?
Answer: Change the infusion site and monitor for ketones
Infected pump sites must be changed immediately, and ketone monitoring is essential since pump occlusion can cause rapid DKA.
What is the recommended storage temperature for an unopened vial of insulin?
Answer: Refrigerated at 36–46°F
Unopened insulin vials should be refrigerated between 36–46°F to maintain potency until the expiration date.
The 'dawn phenomenon' in insulin-treated patients refers to:
Answer: Rising blood glucose in early morning due to counter-regulatory hormones
The dawn phenomenon is caused by early-morning surges in cortisol and growth hormone that increase hepatic glucose output.
Which of the following is a sign of insulin lipohypertrophy?
Answer: Hard, rubbery lumps under the skin at injection sites
Lipohypertrophy appears as fatty tissue buildup from repeated injections at the same site, causing erratic insulin absorption.
A Type 1 diabetic patient is sick with a viral illness and unable to eat. What should they do with their insulin?
Answer: Continue basal insulin and check ketones frequently
Sick day rules require continuing basal insulin even without eating, as illness increases counter-regulatory hormones causing hyperglycemia.
What does the term 'insulin stacking' mean?
Answer: Administering correction doses before a previous dose has fully peaked
Insulin stacking occurs when correction doses are given too frequently, causing overlapping action and hypoglycemia.