Types and Administration Techniques Flashcards

Rapid-acting insulin analogs such as lispro, aspart, and glulisine are typically administered:

Answer: 0–15 minutes before or immediately after meals

Rapid-acting analogs have a quick onset (5–15 minutes) and are given just before or right after eating to match the postprandial glucose rise.

Which site of insulin injection generally produces the fastest absorption rate?

Answer: Abdomen

The abdomen has the fastest insulin absorption rate due to greater subcutaneous blood flow in that area.

A resident who uses an insulin pen leaves the needle attached after injection. The QMA should explain that this can cause:

Answer: Insulin leakage or air entering the cartridge

Leaving a needle attached allows insulin to leak out or air to enter the cartridge, affecting subsequent dose accuracy.

What is the recommended maximum volume for a single subcutaneous insulin injection at one site?

Answer: 1 mL

No more than 1 mL should be injected at a single subcutaneous site to minimize discomfort and ensure proper absorption.

Lipohypertrophy at injection sites is most commonly caused by:

Answer: Repeatedly injecting into the same small area

Lipohypertrophy (fatty tissue buildup) results from injecting repeatedly into the same spot, which can cause erratic insulin absorption.

A QMA notes that insulin that is normally clear appears cloudy. The correct action is to:

Answer: Discard it and obtain a new vial

Cloudiness in insulin that should be clear (e.g., regular, glargine, detemir) indicates degradation or contamination and it must be discarded.

When performing a subcutaneous insulin injection, the QMA should release the skin fold:

Answer: After withdrawing the needle

The skin fold should be released after needle withdrawal to prevent the needle from being redirected into muscle during injection.