Insulins
Medication class detail with safety cues and nursing action focus.
Insulins
Examples: lispro, regular insulin, NPH, glargine
Mechanism
Moves glucose from blood into cells; also shifts potassium into cells when used with dextrose for hyperkalemia.
Used for
- Diabetes mellitus
- DKA/HHS protocols
- Hyperkalemia shift therapy with glucose
Side effects
- Hypoglycemia
- Hypokalemia during IV therapy
- Weight gain
Nursing actions
- Check glucose and meal status before rapid-acting insulin.
- Monitor potassium during DKA treatment and IV insulin protocols.
- Teach hypoglycemia recognition and treatment.
Hold / question cues
- Low glucose
- Meal unavailable for rapid-acting dose
- Potassium too low for insulin infusion per protocol
Antidote / reversal
- glucose
- glucagon when appropriate
NCLEX pearl
- Insulin lowers sugar and can lower serum K by shifting it into cells.
Individual drug cards
Low glucose or no meal available is a hold-and-question cue.
Potassium too low before IV insulin is a protocol safety cue.
Basal insulin can still cause hypoglycemia even without a meal-time peak.
Related study cards
Shows conditions, glossary terms, Drive entities, and source-linked cards connected to this medication class.
Basal insulin can still cause hypoglycemia even without a meal-time peak.
Low glucose or no meal available is a hold-and-question cue.
Potassium too low before IV insulin is a protocol safety cue.
Polyuria, polydipsia, polyphagia.
Fruity breath, Kussmaul respirations, ketones, acidosis.
Baby may be large but become hypoglycemic after birth.
Very high glucose, high osmolality, little/no ketones.
Peaked T waves.